The FCT Health Insurance Scheme has exceeded its enrolment goals set by the Health Services and Environment Secretariat for 2024.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT-HSES, announced this success following a road walk organized by the Federal Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) in celebration of Universal Healthcare Coverage Day 2024 in Abuja.
In a statement from FHIS Public Relations Officer, David Barau, it was emphasized that the aim of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is to ensure that no individual is overlooked, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Dr. Fasawe, represented by Dr. Baba-Gana Adam, the Permanent Secretary of HSES, indicated that the FHIS had a goal of enrolling 100,000 individuals over four years, with an annual target of 25,000. Remarkably, they have surpassed this target by 11,000.
“The annual target for the Federal sector was 25,000. From January to November 2024, we enrolled 36,000 individuals, exceeding the target by 11,000. We are still counting, as today is December 12, 2024. The goal of UHC is to ensure that no one, particularly the poor and vulnerable, is left behind,” Fasawe explained.
She further noted that, with a mandatory legal framework in place, the FHIS is on track to achieve its informal sector enrolment goals. Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has resolved all outstanding payments to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).
“This administration has provided unprecedented support. All claims from our HMOs and health facilities have been settled. We have engaged with stakeholders, including HMOs and health facilities, and approved payments for the first quarter of 2025. With the backlogs cleared, we are progressing to meet the Minister’s commitments,” she stated.
Earlier, the Acting Director of FHIS, Dr. Salamatu Belgore, presented the UHC Day call to action letter to Dr. Fasawe for delivery to the FCT Minister. She stressed that healthcare is a fundamental human right rather than a privilege.
“UHC ensures that everyone has access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without facing financial hardship,” she said.
Belgore also noted that over the past 20 years, global financial protection has deteriorated, with 2 billion people facing financial difficulties, and 1.3 billion being pushed into poverty due to health-related expenses.
“In Nigeria, out-of-pocket spending has remained high, consistently exceeding 75 percent for the last four years,” she added.
Belgore highlighted that the call to action letter included proposals for establishing a legal framework for the FCT Health Insurance Agency, digital innovations, investment in public health infrastructure, revitalization of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), and securing equity funding—two percent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the FCT—to enroll the poor and vulnerable and address the gap in health workforce resources.