The association said it would mobilise students across the country for mass protests and coordinated demonstrations if the Director-General of NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, failed to step down within the stipulated period.
It expressed concern over questions surrounding the authority’s operations and the implementation of its programmes, particularly its ability to fulfil its statutory responsibility of expanding access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare for Nigerians.
“Nigeria’s health insurance system must not become a structure where policies exist primarily on paper while citizens continue to struggle with access to medical services, administrative bottlenecks, inadequate healthcare coverage and challenges associated with the effective utilisation of their insurance benefits.
“The purpose of health insurance is to provide protection, not to create another layer of bureaucracy between citizens and the healthcare they deserve,” NANS stated.
READ ALSO:
- Rights Group Commends DSS Boss Over Sun Leadership Award
- INEC Debunks Amupitan’s Resignation Rumour Amid London Protest
- Abuja Mosque Protest: FCT Residents Allege Opposition Plot To Discredit Tinubu, Wike
The association warned against a situation where health insurance policies existed mainly on paper while citizens continued to grapple with administrative bottlenecks, inadequate coverage and difficulties accessing medical services.
NANS also called for reforms in the operations and regulation of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), insisting on stronger regulatory supervision, effective monitoring of accredited healthcare facilities, timely settlement of legitimate healthcare providers’ claims and protection of enrollees against arbitrary denial of medical services.
The association further raised concerns over the implementation of the NYSC Corps Members Health Insurance Scheme, saying that a programme designed to guarantee healthcare protection for corps members serving across the country should not be hindered by accessibility and implementation challenges.
