Beyond Hospital Bills: LASHMA’s Fight to Shield Nigerians from Medical Poverty
For many Nigerians without health insurance, a serious illness does not only threaten their health, it can threaten their financial stability, forcing families to dip into savings, sell assets or borrow money to pay for treatment. Funmi Ogundare and Ayodeji Ake examine how the absence of adequate health insurance can leave households vulnerable to the devastating economic consequences of illness…
Sadiq Adedeji, a young man living in Lagos, once had a stable life. He worked, saved money, and lived within his means. However, when his father needed eye surgery, Adedeji bore the financial burden as the family had no health insurance. His savings dwindled, and he had to borrow money from friends, relatives, and even loan sharks.
The crisis deepened when his wife developed health complications during pregnancy, requiring additional medical care and eventually a Caesarean section. The situation took a tragic turn when their child was stillborn. Adedeji's story highlights how a medical crisis can quickly spiral into a financial one, especially without adequate health insurance.
This illustrates the need for health insurance to mitigate the financial risks associated with unexpected medical needs. In response, Lagos State has made health insurance compulsory for its residents and workers through Executive Order number EO/BOS/01 of 2024. The state's Health Management Agency, LASHMA, is implementing this scheme in phases, with enforcement beginning in 2026.
LASHMA's ILERA EKO initiative aims to provide residents with access to healthcare without causing financial devastation. The agency emphasizes that the scheme not only protects residents from catastrophic health expenditure but also promotes access to quality and affordable healthcare. LASHMA sees health insurance as a means to bring financial peace of mind, making medical expenditure more predictable and shielding households from the financial hardship that often accompanies large medical bills.
However, for the scheme to succeed, residents must understand its benefits and how to utilize it effectively. This challenge is being addressed through a two-day capacity-building program for journalists organized by LASHMA. The program aims to educate the public on the importance of health insurance and its role in achieving universal health coverage in Lagos.
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