Health expert demands immediate Presidential assent to FCT insurance bill

Health expert demands immediate Presidential assent to FCT insurance bill

A health expert, Mr Shem Adah, has called for immediate Presidential assent to the FCT Health Insurance Bill, saying it is crucial to improving healthcare financing and advancing universal health coverage.

Mr Shem Adah, a health expert, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

Adah commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his performance across key sectors, including education, road infrastructure, and water and sanitation, but said the health sector required similar priority attention.

He said the most pressing need was the passage into law of the bill establishing the FCT Health Insurance Agency.

He added that it would greatly improve healthcare infrastructure, enhance human capital development and strengthen the overall health system.

Adah, who is also a representative of Advocacy for Development, Health and Environmental Sustainability (ADHES), urged the FCT Minister to transmit and advocate for the bill’s assent by President Bola Tinubu.

“The passage and presidential assent to the FCT Health Insurance Bill is not just a policy decision; it is a lifeline for millions of residents who currently bear the burden of out-of-pocket healthcare costs,” he said.

He said the bill, when enacted, would accelerate healthcare coverage, reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and provide financial protection, especially for poor and vulnerable populations.

Adah added that the legislation aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda on expanding access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.

He also commended the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, for efforts to improve health insurance coverage in the FCT.

According to him, the FCT ranks among the leading regions in health insurance enrolment nationwide, a development he described as commendable.

He further acknowledged the contributions of the FCT State Social Health Insurance Scheme (SSHIA), led by Dr Salamatu Belgore, in expanding access to health insurance services.

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Adah said achieving universal health coverage in the FCT would remain difficult without the legal backing of the proposed insurance agency, stressing that the bill’s passage was essential for sustainability and accountability.

He said key indicators of a functional healthcare system include improved infrastructure, reduced neonatal and infant mortality, access to affordable healthcare financing, strengthened human resources for health and effective governance.

Adah expressed concern over the impact of prevailing economic challenges on the healthcare system, warning that these pressures had further weakened access to quality care and slowed progress towards universal health coverage.

While acknowledging efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, he stressed the need for more visible and measurable outcomes that directly impact communities.

He urged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Mohammed Ali Pate, to prioritise policies that deliver tangible improvements in healthcare infrastructure, financing and service delivery.

“Healthcare reforms must be felt at the community level. Nigerians should not only read about progress; they should experience accessible, affordable and quality care,” he said.

Adah said trust in the healthcare system could only be built on lived experiences, noting that while there were pockets of achievements, they were not yet commensurate with the capacity and expectations of current leadership.

He emphasised the need for deliberate, people-centred reforms to restore confidence in the system and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare across the country.

VMT NEWS reports that the FCT Health Insurance Bill is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare financing and expand access to affordable services in the territory.

The FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), established to provide coverage for residents, has recorded gradual progress over the years but continues to face challenges, especially in reaching informal sector workers and vulnerable populations.

The proposed legislation seeks to provide a legal framework for the scheme by establishing a full-fledged FCT Health Insurance Agency with clear governance and sustainable funding mechanisms.

Stakeholders say the absence of a statutory backing has limited the scheme’s capacity to scale up coverage and ensure long-term sustainability.