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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed), has linked the poor health care services in Nigeria to poor health insurance services where millions of citizens are forced to adopt out-of-pocket payment for health care services.
The group said going by the attitude of the country’s political leaders and the state of the economy, government alone cannot afford to provide adequate funding for health care services, hence the need for efficient compulsory health insurance services for Nigerians.
Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, stated this in his remarks after being sworn-in as pioneer President of NAMed in Abuja.
He cited the examples of some countries, especially in North Africa and Europe, that developed and adopted efficient and effective compulsory health insurance system and the mileage they have gained in terms of quality and affordable health care services to their people.
“I believe that part of the challenges we have in quality health care service delivery is poor funding, and health insurance is the only answer to that challenge.
“Health insurance is largely the answer to Nigeria’s poor health care services. Without compulsory successful health insurance, Nigeria cannot generate enough revenue to tackle the health challenges of its people. If someone cannot pay for the health insurance premium, government or family members can help to pay rather than contributing and spending millions of Naira for surgery instead of enrollment in health insurance to enjoy the services at a reduced cost,” he said.
He charged NAMed to champion a cause that would herald a turnaround in the public health care system in Nigeria so that both the elites and other Nigerians could confidently patronise the system.
