During a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, the National Health Insurance Authority, alongside key parties, reached a consensus on a revised pricing structure for medicines and services, as conveyed in a statement by NHIA’s Acting Director of Media and Public Relations, Emmanuel Ononokpono.
The agreement entails a 60% increase in capitation and a 40% upward adjustment in Fee-For-Service, forms of payment to healthcare providers for services delivered to NHIA beneficiaries. Immediate implementation of these new tariffs for current NHIA services was stipulated.
While the new pricing arrangement has come into effect, it was emphasized that it does not preclude the findings of the ongoing actuarial studies commissioned by the authority, with the report anticipated by September.
The engagement, attended by representatives from various healthcare sectors including the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, Health Maintenance Organisations, and the Guild of Medical Directors, resulted in a six-point communique containing multiple resolutions.
To foster transparency and coordination, it was agreed that quarterly meetings will be held to synchronize with sectoral developments. Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, the Director General of NHIA, highlighted the authority’s commitment to ensuring affordable and high-quality healthcare for enrollees, stressing the importance of prioritizing Nigerians’ welfare above all else.
Emphasizing the necessity of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve universal health coverage, he assured of the authority’s dedication to maintaining a harmonious relationship with all relevant parties.
Ohiri stated, “NHIA does not take its stakeholders for granted. We always appreciate their collaboration within the context of achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage.”
