Culture, religious beliefs hindrance to health insurance — NHIS Coordinator
By Matthew Denis
The Coordinator of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) North Central 3 Zone, Dr. Adelaja Abereoran has disclosed that the cultural norms, mores and religious perspective of some Communities is posing challenge in capturing people at grassroots into health insurance programme.
The Coordinator made the disclosure during an interview over the weekend.
He said, “The challenges we have is that some cultural and religious beliefs, perspective make selling Health insurance difficult in some Communities because alot of people don’t see it as something that they should commit themselves into.
“The reason why a lot of people gets motor vehicle insurance is because it’s mandatory and that’s why most vehicle insurance are third party insurance and once the security personnel on the roads sees it, they free you. But when you ask people to insure their health they will bring in religious sentiment that it’s because you don’t have faith that’s why you’re paying for insurance. In fact, some will say you’re wishing yourself illness.
“ We have also seen this and one of the things we advocated over the years after our laws were signed in 1999 is that health insurance was not mandatory but over the years we have struggled and a bill has been passed by the National Assembly which one of the provision is to ensure health insurance mandatory and I’m sure within a short period we expect a presidential assent thereby becoming a law.
“ Even then in our own little way as part of the ways to deepen coverage is make sure that no organizations can do business with us if you haven’t enrolled your staff.
The Coordinator stated that they are partnering with the state government through a federal government programme called the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds to ensure that Evey Nigerian particularly children under 5years, pregnant women, elderly and the vunurable who are physically challenged that have access to acquittable and affordable Healthcare service. It’s actually like a subsidy programme and a product of legislation in the National Healthcare Act 2014 which requires 1 percent of the consolidated revenue funds should go into the health Sector.
According to him they have to ensure that state governments establish their own health insurance agencies so that beyond the National level, state governments too cover their Civil servants including the local governments level. Then the other people who are outside formal employment they can get access under the Group Individual Family Social Insurance programme (GIFSHIP).
“The state health insurance agencies are required to manage funds. As I’m speaking with you we’re already enrolling primary healthcare centers since last year because grassroots of the scheme. The concept of universal health coverage requires universal contributions by all stakeholders.
On their programme, he stressed that they did a lot last year but the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic still affected them, despite being an essential service. He however said some operations remain ongoing.
“ There’s a lot of partnership with state governments and some of stakeholders to enhance our activities to the grassroots people. We have partnership with the National Orientation Agency as they have structures practically in all the local councils, we engage them in dissemination of information on Heath insurance.
“ Once we finish the accreditation to know the level of facilities, personnel and the equipment they have whether they can render the service under the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds which is the benefits package covering majorly local healthcare conditions, the state governments are supposed to do the enrollment.”
He maintained that within his zone comprising of Kwara, Kogi and Niger states they have been able to capture about 98 percent in the formal sector and are collaborating with state governments and other stakeholders to key in the informal sector most especially through the GIFSHIP.
