The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has called for deeper reforms and renewed commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery across the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Mr Matawalle, represented by his Special Assistant, Abdulkadir Atiku, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 13th Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML) Stakeholders’ meeting with the theme “Overcoming the Challenges of Healthcare Delivery in the Armed Forces of Nigeria: DHML and Military Healthcare Providers in Focus.”

He described DHML as a strategic pillar of military readiness and national resilience.

The minister said that the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect, re-strategise and reinforce shared commitments and sustainable healthcare services to personnel and their families.

He added, “The DHML was established with clear and noble objectives – to ensure that personnel and their families receive free, comprehensive and quality healthcare through regular funding disbursements.”

Mr Matawalle said the DHML’s vision to become a benchmark for health maintenance organisations in Nigeria remained ambitious and inspiring.

He explained that its mission placed emphasis on efficiency, accountability, service delivery, transparency and patient satisfaction.

He said the defence health system must continue to align with the objectives of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which seeks to protect families from catastrophic health expenditure, guarantee equity in service provision and ensure quality healthcare through regulated systems.

“In the unique context of the Armed Forces, DHML has localised these national objectives to respond specifically to the needs of military personnel,” he said.

He, therefore, urged healthcare providers and military health commanders to deepen collaboration and strengthen military healthcare financing and service delivery.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Olufemi Oluyede, represented by M.B. Onwere, expressed concern over persistent gaps in the military healthcare system, despite the improvements recorded by DHML.

The CDS noted that many chronic ailments and specialised consultations expected to be covered under the NHIA framework remained inadequately addressed, prompting worry within the Defence Headquarters.

He said, “The Armed Forces is still concerned because some services that should be taken care of are not being handled as expected.

“This message is being relayed so that after this meeting, we can integrate and see how these issues can be changed to ensure full coverage.”

He urged stakeholders to use the meeting as a turning point to expand coverage and ensure compliance with national health insurance provisions.

Earlier, the Managing Director/CEO of DHML, Azeez Afolayan, said the meeting was designed to foster frank and constructive engagement for quality healthcare to serving and retired personnel and their dependants.

Mr Afolayan described the military health system as a large and complex structure with health financing at its foundation, adding that DHML served as a critical anchor for the overall medical system of the Armed Forces.

“If the Nigerian military health establishment is taken as a physical project, then DHML would be its foundation.

“Periodic retrospection is necessary for early detection of gaps and rectification of fault lines capable of undermining the system,” he said.

Mr Afolayan restated the organisation’s vision “to become a leader in Health Management Organisation (HMO) business and act as a benchmark for the country.”

He acknowledged existing challenges, including gaps in service delivery, delays in claims processing, rising costs of medical care, and data-management deficiencies, but expressed optimism that collective action could address them.

“Our task is not just administrative; it is a moral and strategic responsibility. We owe it to our personnel to provide dependable and accessible healthcare,” he said.

He urged participants to approach the deliberations with open minds “so that the meeting will not only highlight challenges but ignite solutions that will uplift the health and morale of those who serve the nation.”

The DHML stakeholders’ meeting brought together commanders, commanding officers and healthcare providers from military hospitals nationwide.
(NAN)