The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has signed a tripartite agreement with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Servicom Unit of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The collaboration aims to boost health insurance coverage, enhance the accuracy of health data, and improve service delivery for more than 20 million enrollees across Nigeria.
At the signing event in Abuja, NHIA Director-General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, highlighted that working with NBS will allow the authority to develop a stronger, data-driven health insurance system that accurately reflects the healthcare realities faced by Nigerians.
“This partnership will ensure that the right data and issues affecting the poor and vulnerable are captured and measured by the NBS,” he said.
Dr Ohiri explained that the collaboration will focus on enhancing the quality and reliability of health data to evaluate whether insurance services are achieving tangible benefits for the population.
“Accurate and timely data are critical for planning, implementation, and evaluation of health insurance policies.
This partnership represents a shared commitment to improving data quality and answering fundamental questions, what works well in Nigeria, and if we are truly improving people’s lives?” he stated.
He further noted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Servicom, which is primarily tasked with improving public service delivery, reinforces NHIA’s “whole-of-government” strategy toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with national priorities.
Dr Ohiri stressed that universal health coverage is not only about increasing access to services but also about ensuring that Nigerians receive quality care at all accredited facilities.
“We are working to ensure that the enrollee charter and QR Cadet system in health facilities are fully operational, in partnership with Servicom desk officers, to improve the quality of care and services to Nigerians,” he added.
The partnership is expected to enhance data-driven decision-making, strengthen accountability in service delivery, and ensure that health insurance programmes effectively reach Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable citizens.
