NHIA DG pushes for consolidated insurance, expanded coverage
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated for the consolidation of health insurance schemes.
Ohiri also called for extending health insurance coverage to Nigeria’s vast informal workforce at the forthcoming National Health Financing Dialogue.
He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of a national health financing dialogue to be organised the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The dialogue is scheduled to hold from September 1 to September 4 2025 in Abuja and Dr. Ohiri is expected to spotlight the urgent need to expand financial protection.
He said that health insurance remained the strongest form of solidarity while highlighting NHIA’s commitment to scaling health insurance coverage and deepening financial protection.
According to him, the policy dialogue aims to review findings from the State of Health Financing Report.
He said that it would also build consensus on nationally supported, politically feasible strategies that can expand and sustain domestic health financing, among other objectives.
Ohiri said that the dialogue would also bring together policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders and civil society to explore pathways for building a more inclusive and sustainable health financing system in Nigeria.
Findings reveal that Nigeria currently faces low health insurance penetration, with the majority of citizens paying out-of-pocket for healthcare services, a situation that experts warn exposes households to financial hardship and deepens health inequalities.
The national health financing dialogue is expected to chart actionable reforms aimed at ensuring affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for all Nigerians without the risk of impoverishment.
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