Nigeria’s Health Authority refunds millions, disciplines hospitals
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The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Nigeria refunded N14.2 million (roughly $9,500 USD) to people enrolled in the national health insurance program and suspended nine hospitals after receiving complaints about the care they provided.
Dr Kelechi Ohiri, the NHIA’s Director-General, announced these actions during a review of Nigeria’s national health sector reforms in Abuja. The NHIA also sent 368 warning letters to healthcare providers after addressing 3,878 complaints from enrollees.
To ensure quality of care, the authority dispatched inspectors to facilities to monitor adherence to policies like the one-hour treatment authorisation rule. These enforcement actions coincided with a rise in health insurance enrollment, increasing from approximately 16 million to over 23 million people during the current administration. Beyond addressing complaints, the NHIA expanded financial support programs. Over 2.7 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians received assistance through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
The agency also partnered with Roche to lower costs for cancer patients, with Roche covering 50% of medicine costs, the NHIA contributing 30%, and patients paying the remaining 20%. Radiotherapy patients can receive between N400,000 and full coverage for their treatment. The NHIA is also working to expand HIV and tuberculosis programs, accrediting facilities to reach more people in the coming years, and has reached over 93,000 women and newborns with maternal and newborn healthcare interventions.
