The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced a new initiative to improve health insurance access for vulnerable groups.
The vulnerable groups include Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) and TB patients.
The project, aimed at expanding coverage for these populations, will be implemented across five Nigerian states, namely, Kwara, Gombe, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Lagos.
The Director General of NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed this in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.
Ohiri said that the project, backed by the Global Fund and the Country Coordinating Mechanism, this project, would run from 2024 to 2026.
He said that the project is aimed to provide premium support and health outcome evaluations to address the significant gaps in healthcare access and financial protection.
He said that the initiative aligned with the Global Fund Strategy (2023-2028).
According to Ohiri, it collaborated with the State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Network of PLHIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), among others.
He said that reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs would allow PLHIV and TB patients to access comprehensive healthcare services beyond HIV and TB treatments.
He said that the aim was to enhance their overall quality of life and support universal health coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
“The initiative not only improves access to essential healthcare for high-risk populations, but also serves as a potential model for nationwide healthcare reform.
With hopes of scaling this initiative nationwide, innovative partnerships and strategic healthcare investments are key to building a more inclusive and resilient health system,” he said.
NAN
