.. Govt. Eyes 44m coverage By 2030
The Federal Government says no fewer than 20 million Nigerians are now enrolled under various health insurance schemes — a milestone it described as a major step towards achieving universal health coverage.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Saturday while giving an update on the progress of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda.
According to him, the government aims to increase the figure to 44 million by 2030, ensuring more Nigerians have access to affordable and quality healthcare without catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses.
“In 2024, Nigeria broke its enrollment record with over 2.4 million new people insured, bringing total coverage to about 20 million,” Pate said. “This reflects our steady progress towards universal health coverage under President Tinubu’s leadership.”
Pate explained that social health insurance now accounts for 90 per cent of all enrollments nationwide, describing it as the most reliable path to reducing the country’s high out-of-pocket health expenditure, currently standing at about 70 per cent of total health spending.
To improve service quality, the minister announced that the government had increased the capitation fee per enrollee from ₦750 to ₦1,450 — almost double the previous rate — while fee-for-service rates were reviewed upward by 380 per cent to make them more cost-reflective.
He also unveiled the introduction of a “One Hour Referral Authorization Code” that allows patients to move more quickly from primary to specialist care.
“By shortening the referral process to one hour, we are eliminating unnecessary delays and ensuring that patients get timely and dignified care,” Pate stated.
To strengthen accountability, the minister directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to commence covert monitoring of healthcare providers nationwide.
“Undercover monitors are already visiting health facilities to ensure that enrollees are not denied treatment,” he added.
Pate said the reforms had already started yielding results, noting that hospital visits increased from fewer than 10 million in 2023 to more than 46 million by the second quarter of 2025.
He further disclosed that nearly 120,000 health workers had been trained since 2023, while 2,500 doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers were recently recruited to boost frontline healthcare services.
In addition, 4,000 new health personnel have been deployed to federal tertiary hospitals to close existing workforce gaps, Pate said.
“Reforms in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and NHIA are delivering measurable gains in patient confidence and service utilization. As enrollment expands, benefits multiply — households are better protected from financial hardship and service quality improves,” he noted.
The minister reaffirmed that the health reforms align with President Tinubu’s broader goal of building a health system that serves all Nigerians, regardless of income or social status.
“Every policy and reform under the Renewed Hope Agenda is driven by one objective: ensuring that every Nigerian can access affordable and quality healthcare,” Pate said.
He added that the government would continue to modernize infrastructure across all levels of care while sustaining reforms to ensure that “every Nigerian is covered and cared for.”
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