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TitleAchieving universal health coverage in Nigeria : the National Health Insurance Scheme as a tool  
AuthorE.E. Usoroh
InstituteKIT - Royal Tropical Institute
DepartmentDevelopment, Policy and Practice
TrainingMaster of Public Health
Year2012
PublisherKIT - Royal Tropical Institute [etc.]
PlaceAmsterdam
Pagesxii, 61
OrganisationsKIT - Royal Tropical Institute, VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
SubjectHealth and Nutrition
Keywordsgovernment, health services
RegionWest Africa
CountryNigeria
AbstractINTRODUCTION: The start of the 21st century witnessed a renewed effort at health sector and health financing policy reforms in Nigeria. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which commenced in 2005, is the most notable of these reforms. Despite these efforts, many Nigerians are yet to feel the impact and Nigeria is faced with the challenge of expanding the NHIS to cover the large and mainly poor informal sector. METHODS: Literature review. FINDINGS: Nigeria is far from achieving universal health coverage seven years after the NHIS commenced. The scheme is yet to extend significant coverage to the larger and mainly poor informal sector. It is voluntary for Nigerians and estimated coverage is 5% in 2011. No concerted efforts have been made to raise and allocate funding for the informal sector SHI programmes and out-of-pocket payments for health is high.
CONCLUSIONS: Nigeria’s slow progress towards achieving universal health coverage is mainly due to lack of good governance, inadequate funding for the health system, poor stakeholder participation, and challenges of human and infrastructural capacity. RECOMMENDATIONS: Review the NHIS Decree making the scheme mandatory, and increase government stewardship of health financing policy reform Implementation. Make transparency and accountability the watch-word in tackling innovative revenue generation and allocation of funds to the health sector and NHIS. Ensure community and stakeholders’ participation to grow the scheme. Build capacity across the health system.
LanguageEnglish
CategoryResearch
Document typeMaster thesis
Rights© 2012 Usoroh
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