My work as a health insurance advocate in Nigeria towards achieving universal health coverage.
I have had the opportunity to experience the life of a healthcare provider, caregiver to the sick, and also being sick in Nigeria. The summary of my experience is that quality healthcare is expensive and not affordable to the common man.
Rather than being in the clinic as expected of a regular medical doctor in Nigeria, I chose a little different path, which is the health insurance sector. Nigeria has among its 2030 Millennium Development Goals aimed at attaining universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, which, at its pace, is very unlikely.
The average patient that gets seen by a physician, especially at government facilities, is likely reviewed in haste as the work load is often too much for the doctor. There's a chance that the patient gets treatment of less quality than necessary.
The developed countries and even a few underdeveloped nations do boast of universal health coverage. Nigeria, being the giant of Africa with a population above 200 million, has the mandate to achieve the coverage of all citizens and legal residents.
Universal health coverage entails financial access to quality healthcare. The implication is that the patient would not be burdened by the cost of healthcare and would, at the same time, have access to quality healthcare. This is approached in two phases: contribution and improving access to quality healthcare.
Even in Freetown, nothing is free. Thus, there have to be contributors. The government caters for its employees through medical allowances, while private individuals can come on board via a token of ₦45, 000 per annum. This amount can accommodate a minimum of three individuals who do not necessarily have to be biologically related. A breakdown of this would mean an individual is paying ₦15, 000; however, he cannot come in with such an amount; he would need to partner with two other people, or he can choose to pay the minimum ₦45, 000 entry fee as an individual. Accomodating the extra two people is a means of increasing the number of people who are insured health wise and also the drive to achieve universal health coverage in Nigeria.
The body responsible for accrediting facilities that can conduct health insurance coverage in Nigeria is the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). This organization has medical professionals that inspect facilities for accreditation and re-accreditation, alongside other activities like quality assurance visits and complaint resolutions. These are means instituted to ensure the healthcare delivered to the beneficiaries is of standard quality.
These are my roles as a healthcare provider in Nigeria. I am glad to be a facilitator of quality healthcare in Nigeria, among many other healthcare professionals. The clinical practice on Nigeira is a toxic environment with grossly understaffed employees. Working in the health insurance sector relieves me of the stress of unsatisfactory healthcare delivery.
I'm currently satisfied with my job as it pertains to meeting the health needs of a large population of Nigerians, even though the remuneration does not correlate with both the work and economic reality.
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.
In this part of the world, we only visit the hospital whenever we are forced to do so by sickness. It's not our fault, a lot of people don't have proper education on it as it should be. And like you said, medical services are very expensive. The average man believes in taking his herbs than going to the hospital and gets charged high.
Early tgis year, i feel sick, we went to the hospital and i was given three drips and sone drugs, i think four sachet or so, when i asked my mom how much she spent because i was unconscious while they were doing the transaction, she said "ten thousand naira". I was surprise, everything is just so expensive in the hospital. Infact the nurse even told us that its cheap compared to other hospitals 😂
I love that insurance policy, I just hope it would stand. If not private hospitals, some doctors give little attention to their patients due to the population of people they have to attend to. I wish the government will look into some of these things, you will see a very big hospital with just one doctor, how do you expect the person to give attention to all the patients?
I love the health sector, while growing up, I aspired to be a medical doctor but life changed everything.
Life and Nigeria especially has a way of redefining one's aspirations. They're right, the hospital is cheap. Quality healthcare is expensive. I hope the government looks at the sector for a revamp
It makes more sense although I'm only familiar with NHIS, is it the same organization? Quality healthcare in Nigeria is expensive and it's sad how many people have died because they couldn't afford it. This initiative is a game changer and on behalf of grateful Nigerians, thank you for your service to humanity, you make the world a better place 👏
Thank you for thanking me. UHC is achievable if there is the political will. NHIS was repealed and now NHIA, same organization
You have said it all bro, in our country little or no attention is being given to the health sector and it's very bad. The health sector deserves a lot of attention from everyone not just the government.
I hope we all see it as a responsibility, seeing health is wealth
Thank you very much, I'm grateful
!giphy welcome
They say after God, you are the next! You help to save lives and gives the best prescription to live a good life. Even though these practitioners aren't compensated well, it is the reason most of them are travelling abroad for greener pastures. Lol
You guys are doing amazingly 👏
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm grateful
Insurance policy is very good step. If the terms and conditions are good enough to facilitate the populace then there is no good alternative other than it to promote good health culture in society which has retarded due to expensive tests,drugs and other health accomodities
You're very correct. I hope we can embrace it well. Thank you sir
I don't know in Nigeria, but I know that in Brazil it is a tough job. SInce many patients need to go through justice to get some treatments through the government...it is a pain
It's a terrible thing here too. I hope the world sees the need to cater for the health of its people
My doc, I love anything and everything in the health line. It's a call for kindness and care.
Thank you dear
You are welcome boss
That's right after corona there are many changes and you are doing this very good and good work it is very happy to help people.
Thank you for your kind words, I'm grateful