LunagisthubFG Unveils Plan to Enroll 44 Million Nigerians in Health Insurance by 2030
The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to enroll at least 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, made this announcement at the opening of the national health financing policy dialogue in Abuja.
The government is committed to strengthening health financing by boosting domestic resources and reducing dependency on external aid. According to Salako, Nigeria’s total health expenditure as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product has risen from 3.4% in 2013 to 5.03% in 2024.
The National Health Insurance Act of 2022 makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and seeks to significantly expand coverage beyond the previous 5% of the population. The Act also established the Vulnerable Group Fund to cater for those unable to afford premiums.
The government aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health, which currently stands at an unacceptably high rate of about 70%. By enrolling more Nigerians in the national health insurance scheme, the government hopes to ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.
The four-day policy dialogue brings together policymakers, development partners, health financing experts, civil society, the private sector, academia, and health insurance representatives to chart a clear path toward stronger and more resilient health financing systems.
Under the Presidential Performance Agreement, a key deliverable for the Ministry of Health is to enroll at least 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030. The government is committed to ensuring that this goal is achieved and that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare.
What do you think about the government’s plan to enroll more Nigerians in the national health insurance scheme? Do you think this will improve access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians?
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