Nigeria: Move for mandatory health insurance for employers

By AHIN:
Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who is Minister of Health on a visit to Benin City, Edo State capital, to pay condolence to the family of the National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who lost his father has said that it holds paramount importance to make health insurance compulsory for all labour employers. He said how deeply concerned he was, over alarming rates at which politicians and individuals are rushing to the foreign countries.
He added that it has become very worrisome for him because it has had huge impact on the country’s foreign reserve and economy. Nigerian government has now made it clear that only those public servants who will have their medical cases approved by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, would be allowed to go abroad for treatment.
Onyebuchi also said that it is unfortunate that many Nigerians are detained in Indian hospitals and other countries because they are not able to settle their medical bills. He said that he has received more than enough series of letters requesting for assistance.
It is important for Nigerians to understand the need of taking advantage of the National Health Insurance Policy, he said. He stressed on the requirement of making it compulsory for all labour employers in Nigeria.