Academy of Medical Specialties of Nigeria (AMSN) has faulted the structuring of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), saying it is prone to corruption because of the middlemen that are used to pay the provider hospitals.
They recommend the British model, National Health Service (NHS), which according to them, is corruption proof and takes care of the unemployed.
President, AMSN, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, yesterday, at a media parley announcing the Academy’s 4th Annual General Meeting, Scientific Conference, and Induction Ceremony scheduled to take place in Lagos on October 26 at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, said:
“Health insurance is the solution to make healthcare affordable to Nigerians under this economic downturn. Right now, most Nigerians could not afford basic healthcare. A good health insurance system is supposed to take care of over 170 million Nigerians who are poor. Unfortunately, the NHIA, as it is presently run, cannot deliver these promises. It is shrouded in corruption because of the HMOs.”
The Federal Government gives them the money to pay the provider hospitals on their behalf, but they keep most part of the money to themselves.”
Ashiru urged the Federal Government to jettison NHIA and adopt the NHS used in United Kingdom, the NHS had been proven to work, taking care of the unemployed and immigrants.
NHS, in Great Britain, is a comprehensive public-health service under government administration, established by the National Health Service Act of 1946 and subsequent legislation. Virtually the entire population is covered, and health services are free except for certain minor charges.
Ashiru said as part of efforts to address the quagmire, the academy’s yearly meeting would feature a keynote lecture to be delivered by the Chairperson of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, Nigeria, Dr Mustafa Muhammed Lecky, on the topic: “Achieving Effective and Sustainable Reform of the Nigerian Health Sector in a Challenged Economy”.
Ashiru said this year’s induction would also feature the inauguration of 13 distinguished researchers, who had met rigorous selection criteria and demonstrated their exceptional contributions to the field of medicine, including distinguished professor of pharmacy, Cecilia Igwilo; a professor of chemical pathology, Cecilia Igwilo; a physician scientist and academic medicine leader, Prof. Akinlolu Ojo; a professor of Medicine, Joseph Fadare, among others. Ashiru said Honorary Fellows would also be inducted at the event and that the inauguration of newly elected Academy officers would also take place.
