Crisis deepens in health insurance sector over the reinstatement of Yusuf

President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to reinstate suspended executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, is receiving a push back from operators in the sector.
This has seen the regulatory function of the NHIS jeopardised as workers protest Yusuf’s reinstatement.
The workers, under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSUN), and Medical and Health Workers of Nigeria (MHWUN), NHIS branch, converged on the NHIS office in Utako, Abuja, protesting and calling on President Buhari to revisit the issues that led to the suspension of the executive secretary.
The controversial executive secretary was on July 2017 asked by the minister of health, Isaac Adewole, to proceed on three-month suspension with immediate effect, over allegations of embezzling over N700 million. The unions are insisting that President Buhari was not properly briefed and therefore should take a second look at the reinstatement of the NHIS boss.
Similarly, Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) has said that it will contest the reinstatement of the executive secretary. The organisation condemned President Buhari for issuing directive on Yusuf’s reinstatement, despite the fact that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has set up a panel recommending that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe the agency for diversion of funds and contravention of the Procurement Act.
HMCAN is the umbrella body of all the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria.
“We will contest it in court. You do not expect us to keep quiet; we are already in court over some distortions he made in running affairs of the agency,” Tunde Ladele, president of HMCAN, said at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday.
Ladele said since the appointment of Yusuf, no single live (enrollee) had been added to the scheme, saying, “We are contesting his appointment; because he is not technically sound to run the NHIS and does not relate with critical stakeholders of the scheme.
“We advise that in the spirit of transparency, accountability and the stance of government on anti-corruption, the report and investigation should not be swept under the carpet. “Doing this will erode public confidence and cast doubt on the sincerity of government.
“We are considering a face-to-face meeting with President Buhari and writing an open letter to him, if we cannot have audience with him. We have the assurances of government that investigations of allegations are ongoing.”

But as crisis builds in the country’s health sector, World Health Organisation’s (WHO) director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says absence of universal health coverage (UHC) is the greatest threat to health security globally.
This is according to a statement from the director-general’s office, while speaking on, ‘Can we create a pandemic-free world,’ in Dubai on Monday.
According to Ghebreyesus, UHC and health security are two sides of the same coin, “But the reality is that at least half the world’s population lacks access to essential health services – 3.5 billion people lack access to essential health services.
“And almost 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty every year because of the costs of paying for care out of their own pockets.”
The director-general stated that the benefits of universal health coverage go far beyond health. New technologies, big data and e-health will play a vital part in improving surveillance and increasing access to services, but in many cases, the best defences are surprisingly low-tech.
“Evidence and experience show that universal health coverage is within reach for all countries, at all income levels. Every nation can do more with the resources it has.
“Just as epidemics can cripple an economy, universal health coverage can help it grow. Strong, resilient health systems are integral to strong, resilient economies,” he said.
Can we create a pandemic-free world, he said, is the question. There is no such thing as a guarantee, but with meticulous preparation and rapid response, we can prevent most outbreaks from getting out of control, and limit the impact of those that spread internationally, he said.
“But this is not only a job for those of us in the health sector. Everyone has a role to play, from those who ensure the safety of our food, to those who strive for safety in our world. So, what can we do?
“The key, as I said, is to acknowledge that universal health coverage and health security are two sides of the same coin, and to invest in strengthening the fabric of health systems everywhere. Strong health systems are our guarantee,” he said.

 

Anthonia Obokoh and LAIDE AKINBOADE-ORIERE, Abuja