Health insurance complaints trigger N14m refunds, nine hospitals suspensions – NHIA

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has refunded over N14.2 million to policyholders and suspended nine healthcare facilities following complaints about services provided under Nigeria's health insurance system. The NHIA also issued 368 warning letters to healthcare providers after resolving 3,878 complaints. The NHIA's Director-General and CEO, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, reported this during the inaugural Civil Society Organisation-Led Mid-Year Review of Nigeria's National Health Sector Reforms in Abuja.

The NHIA has strengthened patient protection and deployed inspection teams to monitor compliance with its one-hour treatment authorization policy and other patient protection and quality-of-care requirements. Health insurance enrolment increased from about 16 million at the beginning of the current administration to over 23 million.

The authority has expanded support for cancer patients and covered over 51,000 people under its HIV and tuberculosis programme. While substantial progress has been made, over 23 million Nigerians remain outside the health insurance system.