Towards Universal Health Coverage: An Analysis of the Health Insurance Coverage in Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Achieving universal health coverage requires a Health Insurance Scheme that minimizes out-of-pocket expenditure, guarantees the provision of essential health services, and covers majority of the population. This study examines the NHIS, it's success, failures, efforts so far towards achieving UHC and overall, examines if Nigeria is progressing towards the achievement of universal health coverage. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a narrative review of published articles on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage in Nigeria. Pubmed and Google Scholar were searched with the following keywords: National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Success, Failure, Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Results: NHIS has failed in its inclusiveness and covers only about 5% of the general population, mainly from the formal sector while most from the informal sector are excluded. Certain factors such as the inadequate legal framework for a successful scheme, optional enrollment policy, poor funding and lack of political will are responsible for the failure of the NHIS. Conclusions: Revising the NHIS to cover all segments of the society including remote areas and ensuring the insured have access to health services at all hospitals and health centers across the country is essential in attaining the third sustainable development goal in Nigeria. Also, there is need for intensify public awareness programs to enlighten the people and relevant groups on the positive values of the scheme. The attributes of the scheme should be well publicized in a way that both the formal and informal sector would understand clearly. This might involve the use of all local languages spoken in different parts of the country.