The Lagos State Government has pointed out faults in the criticism from a former governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, concerning the Executive Order issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the Social Health Insurance Scheme in the state.
Rhodes-Vivour lamented that the scheme would add to the economic hardship already faced by citizens because it mandated a ₦15,000 monthly contribution from every Lagos resident.
Reacting, Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, stated that his principal’s order emanated from the NHIA Act of 2022, which makes social health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.
“This means that Nigerians are expected to key into the social health insurance of the states they reside in,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Akosile also stated that the N15,000 the scheme required from Lagosians is an annual premium payment and not monthly as claimed by Rhodes-Vivour.
“It is necessary to mention that for the informal sector, who largely earn their income daily, the pay small-small initiative is in existence to provide them the means of paying by installment while still getting access to the same care and services as those that pay annual premium.
“Also, pertinent to mention that in full consideration of the fact that some residents may still not be able to pay the very affordable premium, the State Government in compliance with the Lagos State Health Scheme Law has allocated the equity fund for coverage of the vulnerable which has been provided since 2022 and indeed Mr. Governor is the first to make equity fund a first-line charge in Nigeria, since 2024. This year, the budget allocation has been tripled from one billion to three billion to provide even more funds to be able to cover the vulnerable,” he said.
Akosile said that the human resources challenges Lagos is facing, which Rhodes-Vivour pointed out, are not peculiar to the state.
He said several initiatives are being deployed by Sanwo-Olu to address the situation, adding that the governor has initiated the process of establishing a dedicated Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
He said the initiative would bridge the gaps in the doctors-to-patients ratio, which Rhodes-Vivour gave to be 5,014 persons to one general medical doctor, 2,942 persons to one specialist, 2,165 persons to one nurse, and 5,117 persons to one midwife.
He said that in the provision of social health insurance, public-private partnerships are pivotal and as such, services can be accessed from both public and private facilities.
Akosile said there are more private facilities on the scheme than public as they typically offer about 60-70 per cent of services in the state.
“It should be noted that year on year, our budgetary allocations for health keep increasing and Mr. Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s efforts in health are noticeable in physical infrastructure such as the Mother and Child Care hospitals built in Ajah, Badagry and Alimosho. The ongoing New Massey Children’s hospital, which is at 80 per cent completion stage, same as other facilities like the new psychiatric hospital in Ketu-Ereyun, and Epe, to mention a few. But on the part of social health insurance, it is a health financing initiative that the Government has fully entrenched to be able to provide services to the people while also serving as a means to guarantee income to facilities, which they then utilize to improve the quality and accessibility of service delivery for Lagos residents. To further show its commitment, the state government is currently subsidising the premiums for all public servants and their families as high as up to 75 per cent of the premium cost,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu’s aide said the Health Insurance Fund called LASHEF is ring-fenced and utilised only for the purpose for which it was set up by the Law, adding that “even pensioners are being covered for free with the approval of MG.”
He stated that the annual payment for the scheme covers a wide scope of services, both primary and secondary, which are tailored to serve the health needs and address the disease burden of the state.
“There are testimonials of the positive and life-saving impact this scheme has had and continues to have with respect to all strata of society in Lagos State, including the vulnerable,” Akosile said.
