NHIS: FG reads riot act to HMOs over poor performance

Angry at the poor performance of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria, the federal government on Thursday read the riot act, saying the anomalies detected in their operations relating to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would no longer be tolerated.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who issued the warning at the strategic stakeholders’ engagement with the HMOs, organized by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, called on the health providers to key into the ongoing reforms by reviewing their operations in order to remain relevant in the new NHIS.

Represented at the occasion by Director of Hospital services, Dr. Omale Ahmadu, the minister expressed concerns over the poor performance of the HMOs.

“Reports reaching me indicate that an overwhelming percentage of enrolees and health care providers have expressed grave concerns over the performance of HMOs with areas of the concerns including, but not limited to non-remittance of payments to healthcare providers, poor customer service delivery and inaccessibility to enrolees at critical moments of need.

“The collective result of these and many other cases of service failure in the industry are poor service delivery, poor quality of care and worrisome reputation damage for the scheme,” he said.

The minister tasked the stakeholders to take full advantage of the reforms in the NHIS, to engage in frank conversations around the issues that have clogged the wheels of NHIS in the past.

“Let it be noted today, that these anomalies are no longer acceptable because this government is determined to get it right with the NHIS, in view of its status as a strategic tool for effective and efficient healthcare delivery system in the country.

“I therefore, have no doubts that the HMOs will key into the reforms to rebrand NHIS, by frankly addressing internal reforms within and among themselves.

“I wish to repeat myself by saying that all stakeholders of the NHIS are expected to take advantage of the reform mood of the regulatory body, to critically examine themselves and their operations. This is the only way to remain relevant and reputable in the new NHIS we are building,” Ehanire advised.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Mohammed Sambo, said it is imperative to achieve the key objectives of the agency or posterity will not be happy.

“If we don’t achieve the main objectives of the NHIS, posterity will judge us. President Muhammadu Buhari is in a hurry to see the success of the health insurance scheme in Nigeria. So it is imperative for all stakeholders in this health insurance scheme to be committed in making it successful,’’ he appealed.

Also, former President of the Resident Doctors of Nigeria, Dr. Kayode Obembe, in his goodwill message accused the HMOs of not following the stipulated laws establishing by the scheme,

“We have very good guidelines, but people are not following them. We must obey the rules and regulations that is how we can make progress,’’ he added.