NHIS To Cover All Nigerians – Tambuwal

The Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, pledged on Friday that
the National Health Insurance Scheme would be
extended to cover all Nigerians. Tambuwal made the pledge at the opening of the
National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian
Medical Association (NMA) and unveiling of the
Face of Healthy Living in Nigeria in Sokoto. “A situation where only a paltry six per cent of
Nigeria’s population is covered by the NHIS should
no longer stand. “Accordingly, the National
Assembly would seek ways and means of
extending the NHIS coverage to reach, especially
the vulnerable groups within the society, in the current amendment process of the NHIS act. “We call upon the NMA for partnership so we can
be availed of the benefits of professional
expertise. “This call for informed professional
input also stands for all other health-related
legislations receiving attention at the National
Assembly,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Tambuwal as saying at the forum. He commended
the leadership of the association for its
“unparalleled commitment to nation building and
advancement of the health of Nigerians.” The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu,
lauded the association for keeping faith with the
“Asaba declaration” of near zero tolerance to the
issue of strikes in the health sector. “This was
amply demonstrated when the NMA mobilised
doctors and all other health workers who did not join the JOHESU strike to maintain services,” he
noted.