Roche Products Ltd. has partnered with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to expand coverage, improve quality and ensure equitable healthcare access for Nigerians.
The collaboration, through the Health Innovation Leadership Academy, is designed to accelerate the realisation of Universal Health Coverage nationwide.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader health sector reforms aimed at strengthening systems, improving financing and widening access to affordable healthcare services.
Through the partnership, the NHIA is deploying innovative strategies to ensure that no citizen suffers financial hardship when accessing essential healthcare services across the country.
Speaking in Lagos, Roche Acting General Manager, Dr. Bolarinwa Oyedeji, stressed the need for the NHIA to operate cohesively, eliminate silos and drive mass enrolment nationwide.
She said institutional alignment and shared accountability are critical to achieving sustainable reforms and expanding insurance coverage across both formal and informal sectors.
The programme is themed ‘Leading Change in Nigeria’s Healthcare System’.
According to Oyedeji, the initiative ensures that NHIA leadership drives reforms from a “One NHIA, Enrollee First” mindset, prioritising citizens’ health, dignity and service delivery outcomes.
She noted that leadership commitment remains vital in addressing systemic inefficiencies and building trust among enrollees and healthcare providers.
She explained that stakeholders conducted inspection visits across state and federal health facilities in Lagos State to gather first-hand operational insights.
She said the visits aimed to assess NHIS operations, identify gaps and propose practical solutions to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
“They provided a 360-degree view of the healthcare system, grounding NHIA’s strategies in the realities faced by providers, enrollees and innovators,” she said.
Oyedeji added that stakeholders also engaged Health Management Organisations to examine how tariffs influence efficiency, cost management and sustainability within the health insurance ecosystem.
She said visits to Primary Healthcare Centres helped assess grassroots enrolment challenges and the delivery of essential services to vulnerable and underserved populations.
She noted that improving primary healthcare remains central to expanding coverage and ensuring equitable access across rural and urban communities.
She added that stakeholders also visited Computer Village, Ikeja, to explore digital tools, innovation and data-driven solutions for scaling enrolment efficiently.
She said leveraging technology would enhance transparency, reduce leakages and improve monitoring of healthcare service delivery nationwide.
“To bridge policy and practice gaps, stakeholders undertook extensive field engagements across Lagos.
“Insights from these visits will drive ‘NHIA Way’ projects, ensuring access to care without financial hardship for all Nigerians.
“We are proud to partner with NHIA through capacity building and innovation to expand equitable access and strengthen healthcare systems.
“When health systems improve, families remain strong, productivity increases and the nation achieves inclusive economic growth.
“Closing health gaps and achieving UHC unlocks the human capital necessary for a resilient and prosperous Nigeria,” Oyedeji said.
NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said the authority is fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation to address systemic challenges in health insurance administration.
He stressed the need for increased awareness and public education, noting that misconceptions still limit enrolment across many communities nationwide.
Ohiri said the NHIA remains open to partnerships with private sector actors, development partners and state governments to deepen acceptance of the scheme.
According to him, the authority is already demonstrating success through an enrollee-first approach and targeted interventions across key healthcare priorities.
He listed programmes such as the Roche Cancer Partnership, Free Fistula Programme and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care as impactful national interventions.
“These initiatives are saving lives, improving outcomes and protecting families from catastrophic health expenditure.
“This programme invites openness, innovation and creative problem-solving in addressing constraints within the health insurance system,” Ohiri said.
He added that participants would develop actionable plans, leadership skills and implementation-ready ideas to strengthen NHIA’s reform agenda.
On the “One NHIA” commitment, he said the authority remains focused on expanding coverage, improving quality, ensuring equity and promoting long-term sustainability.
He noted that coordinated action across departments and stakeholders would be essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
“Nigerians should expect a shift towards an ‘Enrollee First’ era of innovation, efficiency and transparency in health insurance delivery,” he said.
