State Health Insurance Agencies have underscored the vital role of integrating the private sector into Nigeria’s health insurance programmes to achieve comprehensive coverage for all.
Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Onyemaechi spoke on the sidelines of a high-level policy dialogue focused on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria.
The theme of the dialogue was “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare.’”
He said that the inclusion of private sector players in health insurance schemes could address existing gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved areas.
He said that the private sector brought efficiency, innovation, and investment opportunities that could strengthen health systems, expand service delivery, and ensure that Nigerians accessed affordable and quality healthcare.
“Our objective is to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their socio-economic status, has access to health insurance.
“To achieve this, we must explore partnerships with private healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance firms,” he said.
He said that collaboration with the private sector would promote resource pooling, reduce the financial burden on public health institutions, and foster innovation in healthcare financing mechanisms.
Additionally, he explained that a multi-sectorial approach, which includes public-private partnerships, was critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
“Private sector involvement in health insurance schemes can also help drive down costs and make services more accessible, especially for those in the informal sector who often face financial barriers to healthcare access,” he said.
By expanding the scope of health insurance to include private players, Onyemaechi said that the country could close the coverage gap and improve health outcomes nationwide.
He called for strategic policy adjustments to facilitate these partnerships and ensure regulatory frameworks to support seamless collaboration between public and private entities in the health insurance sector.
He urged state governments to work closely with the Federal Government and private stakeholders to create an enabling environment for sustainable health financing.
He also called on all relevant stakeholders to join forces in ensuring that health insurance schemes in Nigeria delivered equitable and comprehensive coverage for all in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (NAN)
