The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) says it has intensified efforts to expand health insurance coverage and announced new strategies to improve access, strengthen compliance, and reach low-income earners and the informal sector. 

Permanent secretary Emmanuella Zamba made this known on Monday at the LASHMA 2026 first quarter media parley.

She outlined a broad reform agenda anchored on policy enforcement, innovation in payment systems and increased collaboration with journalists and community stakeholders.

In response to economic pressures and feedback from residents, Ms Zamba announced that the agency had introduced a new wallet-based payment system, “Ilera Eko Easy Pay”, designed to make health insurance more affordable.

The platform allowed users to make incremental contributions over three months toward their premiums, rather than paying lump sums upfront.

She noted that the innovation reduced financial barriers and gave residents flexibility, stressing that it built on its existing programmes targeting low-middle-income earners.

She noted that central to the agency’s push was the enforcement of a 2024 executive order mandating health insurance coverage for residents of Lagos.

The directive, backed by the state government, required ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure that residents seeking public services showed proof of enrolment in a health insurance scheme.

Ms Zamba said the first phase of enforcement had already begun within MDAs, with compliance checks and enrolment verification systems now in place.

According to her, a recent assessment confirms improved uptake among public servants following directives issued by the state’s Head of Service.

“The goal is to ensure that access to services is tied to health insurance coverage, thereby accelerating enrolment,” Ms Zamba said.

Subsequent phases, she said, would target the informal sector, both organised and unstructured, as well as vulnerable populations unable to pay, before extending enforcement to corporate organisations.

Highlighting the media’s role in promoting health insurance awareness, Ms Zamba revealed that 72 journalists were trained in partnership with the International Society of Media Persons in Public Health during the first quarter of 2026.

“This platform remains vital for strengthening collaboration with the media, whose role in informing and shaping public perception cannot be overstated,” she said.

She added that the agency has restructured its operational framework to improve outreach, introducing roles such as cluster managers, area coordinators and community-level officers to simplify registration and bring services closer to residents.

The permanent secretary emphasised the importance of intensifying public awareness and engagement to deepen health insurance coverage.

In a bid to promote early awareness, Ms Zamba said LASHMA organised a statewide essay competition for public school students, attracting 713 entries.

The initiative, she said, reflected a broader strategy to nurture a generation that values preventive healthcare and financial protection.

Speaking further on the Ilera Eko Easy Pay, Olatunji Rotimi, head of business development of LASHMA, said individuals could activate coverage after saving a specified amount, while families could pool contributions for group enrolment.

Mr Rotimi said the system was an electronic wallet accessible via mobile platforms, offering secure transactions, automated tracking and the ability to earn interest on savings.

Speaking on the implementation of the executive order, Nifesimi Akinnagbe, technical assistant to the PS, said LASHMA was scaling up grassroots engagement through local governments and community groups to strengthen enrolment.

Mr Akinnagbe said town hall meetings were also being held across communities to gather feedback and tailor service delivery to meet enrollees’ needs.

He added that a government-run equity fund continued to support vulnerable individuals who couldn’t afford premiums.

Beyond expanding enrolment, he said the agency was also focused on improving the quality of care delivered through accredited facilities.

He said a statewide compliance readiness assessment had been conducted across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities to ensure they met required standards.

Mr Akinnagbe said healthcare providers were also undergoing training to align with the new policy framework, with enforcement expected to extend to service providers in the next phase.

“We remain committed to transparency, collaboration and ensuring that every resident has access to quality, affordable healthcare,” he said.

Speaking, the Lagos State coordinator of the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Peace Michael, urged the students to continue their hard work toward success and commended LASHMA for organising the competition.

Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the vice-chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), represented by Salami Luqman, urged the students to continue to use ingenuity to proffer solutions to social issues.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, commended the students and LASHMA, urging the media to continue creating awareness about health insurance. 

Winners from the essay competition were recognised for demonstrating innovative ideas on health challenges and will serve as youth ambassadors for health insurance advocacy. 

(NAN)