Nigerians lack access to proper healthcare under NHIS, says Lawmaker

Amadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that the call was imperative in view of series of complaints by some Nigerians over poor healthcare services being rendered under the NHIS.

He said that the scheme had not been `effective’ in responding to the healthcare needs of some of its beneficiaries.

“If I reflect on what has been going on, you discover that most employees are compliant in their contributions to the scheme.

`But when junior staff of organisations fall ill with issues that are beyond differential diagnosis, they are not allowed to undertake further treatment.

“For example, if they have physical disabilities caused by accident or other serious health challenges, this level of staff have limited access to medical treatment.

“If there is a health insurance coverage for an employee, he or she should have full access to the scheme,’’ Amadi added.

The lawmaker stressed the need for quarterly or bi-annual checks on the activities of both NHIS and the Health Management Offices (HMOs) to ensure strict compliance with the law establishing the scheme.

“There is need for introduction of control and increased checks both on the organisations and the HMOs.

“Some of the HMOs get their fund upfront, if people do not access them they tend to invest in banks to make profit.

“Some of them even undertake capital projects which is outside what the scheme is meant for,’’ the lawmaker added.

Echoing the views expressed by the lawmaker, Mrs Eunice Adah a patient at Kubwa General Hospital, also stressed the need for monitoring of the activities of the NHIS.

“A situation whereby there is no effective control through quarterly or bi-annual checks on the NHIS to ensure compliance with the act will be at a loss to Nigeria,’’ she said.

She also urged the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services to investigate the activities of HMOs.

“There is need for the committee to investigate them to find out their suppliers and what they do with the money government pays them.

“Some of the operators indulge in scam if there are no effective checks on their activities,’’Adah added.