NHIA automates accreditation, targets 90% pensioner coverage by 2026

By Henry Uche

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced the complete automation of its accreditation process for healthcare facilities under the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. The move, officials say, ensures that only institutions meeting international standards are certified to serve enrollees, thereby improving quality and accountability across the healthcare delivery chain.

Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director General of NHIA, made this known in Lagos while addressing members of the Insurance and Pension Correspondents group. Represented by Mrs. Aisha Abubakar Haruna, Deputy Director of the NHIA Lagos Zone, Ohiri emphasized that the Authority’s digital transition has significantly enhanced its ability to enforce quality control.

“We started an accreditation of over 192 facilities in Lagos. We are running accreditation, and we will soon be embarking on re-accreditation, because we have upgraded the standard. We are going to carry out re-accreditation of these facilities to ensure that those that were initially accredited are still operating within the standard, or they can meet the current standard. And for those who cannot meet the standard, they will be asked to exit the platform,” she said.

Haruna further disclosed that NHIA now uses SafeCare tools to assess facilities and conducts the entire process online, reducing bureaucratic delays and improving transparency.

To address persistent issues such as drug shortages and delays in medical care, the Authority is implementing a multi-pronged strategy. According to the NHIA boss, strategic interventions between 2024 and 2025 include the revision of medical tariffs, the resolution of complaints, sanctions for non-compliant Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and providers, and a mandatory one-hour turnaround for the issuance of care authorization codes.

“These interventions are helping to mitigate previous issues of medicine shortages, care denials, delays in issuing codes, and provider payment delays,” he noted.

He also highlighted progress in the Authority’s cancer treatment programme. “An MOU was signed with ROCHE for a cost-sharing payment structure for cancer medications. Apart from the initial five teaching hospitals selected to pilot the initiative, we have scaled up to include more facilities. This will expand financial access to NHIA enrollees, with NHIA and ROCHE sharing the cost,” he said.

Significant milestones have also been recorded under the Fistula-Free Initiative and the Financing Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC) programme. As of May 2025, over 7,500 women have been supported, 2,690 received life-transforming obstetric fistula repairs at 17 dedicated centers, while 5,289 accessed emergency obstetric care at over 200 CEmOC facilities nationwide.

Meanwhile, enrollees have called on NHIA and healthcare providers to maintain the momentum and uphold high standards of service delivery. “We expect a regular review of the facilities by the Authority to maintain standards and guarantee access to safe and quality healthcare services for insured patients,” some enrollees urged.

In a related development, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) announced that it is collaborating with NHIA to enroll pensioners into the National Health Insurance Scheme by 2026, as part of efforts to safeguard the welfare of Nigeria’s retired population.

Mrs. Tolulope Odunaiya, Executive Secretary/CEO of PTAD, represented by the Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Olugbenga Ajayi, explained the rationale behind the initiative.

“For us in PTAD, we are always working to ensure the wellbeing of our pensioners, ensuring they are comfortable, and are well taken care of,” she said.

“We have started negotiating health insurance for our pensioners because we know at this very age they need healthcare more than those of us working. Retirement is when people need government support more than the person who is collecting money every month.

“We are working to ensure that by 2026, if not all, at least 90 percent of PTAD pensioners will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). By 2026, all arrears and other entitlements will be part of our budget, and there will be no issues anymore concerning these. PTAD is presently in 13 states of the federation,” Odunaiya assured.

This coordinated effort by both agencies signals a more inclusive, quality-driven approach to health insurance in Nigeria, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and senior citizens.