Physicians decry five per cent NHIS coverage in Nigeria

The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has decried current coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the country.

They said five per cent coverage in the country is very poor and it takes care of mostly federal civil servants, which is not good enough.

President of the society, Dr. Akin Moses, who spoke while briefing newsmen in Calabar yesterday ahead of the SOFPON 20th yearly general meeting and scientific conference, which kicks off today, said most state governments are yet to implement the NHIS for its workforce and are far from community coverage.

“The NHIS services can only be offered in a functional health system, hence the need to ensure that the primary and secondary health services are functioning. The family physician is geared towards providing universal access in a cost-effective manner due to his polyvalent medical skills by ensuring that all healthcare levels are functioning and the current paucity in healthcare delivery at the primary and secondary level of health care is bridged,” he said.