Follow Us on Google
…Says govt. may enforce compulsory Health Insurance law for all residents in Nasarawa
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA), Dr. Yahaya Bawa Ubam, has revealed that 351,610 residents have so far been enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme, as the government intensifies efforts to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
Dr. Ubam spoke on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Lafia, stressing that it is in the best interest of the state and Governor Abdullahi Sule that all residents be enrolled in one health insurance scheme or another to reduce the burden of medical expenses.
“The scheme is not only about providing medicine when people are sick. It also covers health promotion, disease prevention, curative and rehabilitative care. We sometimes organise outreach programmes to educate residents on how to prevent diseases because prevention is better than cure,” he said.
He explained that healthcare services under the scheme are structured into three levels—primary, secondary, and tertiary care—depending on the severity of the illness. Enrollees choose a primary healthcare facility of their preference as their first point of contact.
“Primary care is for common illnesses such as headaches, malaria, cough, and antenatal services for pregnant women. Every enrollee selects the facility closest to them, whether public or private,” he said.
Patients whose conditions cannot be managed at the primary level are referred to secondary facilities such as general hospitals and specialist hospitals. Cases requiring advanced care are then referred to tertiary institutions, including the Federal University Teaching Hospital Lafia.
Dr. Ubam also addressed complaints from enrollees about being asked to purchase drugs outside accredited facilities, describing such practices as unacceptable.
“If any facility fails to provide the necessary drugs or asks an enrollee to buy drugs outside, that is wrong. All you need to do is check your card and call the phone numbers on it to report the facility. We will guide you on the correct steps to take,” he said.
He disclosed that the agency has migrated from a paper-based claims process to an electronic platform to improve efficiency, allowing facilities to submit claims, referrals, and complaints online.
Ubam revealed that the agency has established zonal offices in Keffi, Akwanga, and Obi to bring services closer to residents, noting that the move is aimed at reducing the long distances people previously had to travel to resolve issues.
The Executive Secretary further explained that the state government sponsors vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five, persons living with disabilities, and indigent residents, ensuring they access healthcare without paying premiums.
He stressed that the health insurance law in Nasarawa State supports enrollment, warning that the government may enforce compliance if residents fail to voluntarily enroll.
“Our goal is that before 2030, every resident of Nasarawa State will be enrolled in a health insurance scheme so that healthcare services are accessible and affordable to all,” he said.
