President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022 into law, repealing the National Health Insurance Scheme Act 2004.

Mr Buhari noted that the 83 million Nigerians unable to pay premiums on their health care would be covered by a group fund in the newly passed law. 

This is contained in a statement issued by his media aide Garba Shehu. 

“For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations and gifts to the Authority,” Mr Buhari said.

The new law gives provisions for the health insurance authority and state governments to develop information management systems and digital records for data collection, monitoring, and quality assurance.

Mr Buhari also noted collaborations with state government health insurance schemes to verify primary and secondary health facilities.

The statement said that the health sector reform committee will work with state governments, the federal ministry of health, and the national health insurance authority to ensure the law’s implementation.  

The health sector reform committee was set up by Mr Buhari last September with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo named as chairperson, after a Health Sector Diagnostic Review Report developed by Vesta Healthcare Partners and the health ministry.

The committee was inaugurated in January.