Private Sector Integration Hailed As Key To Comprehensive Health Insurance

The involvement of the organized private sector has been touted as critical to ensuring comprehensive health insurance for Nigerians.

This was revealed by the chairman of the Executive Secretaries of State Health Insurance Agencies, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi.

Onyemaechi, who is also the managing director of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, made this statement during an interview with Science Nigeria in Abuja. The interview occurred on the sidelines of a high-level policy dialogue focused on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria, themed “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare.”

Onyemaechi pointed out that including private sector players in health insurance schemes can help address existing gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved areas. He highlighted the benefits that private sector participation brings, including efficiency, innovation and investment opportunities, all of which can strengthen health systems, expand service delivery and ensure affordable and quality healthcare for Nigerians.

“Our objective is to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their socio-economic status, has access to health insurance. To achieve this, we must explore partnerships with private healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and insurance firms,” he explained.

He further noted that collaboration with the private sector would promote resource pooling, reduce the financial burden on public health institutions, and drive innovation in healthcare financing mechanisms. He emphasized that a multi-sectoral approach, incorporating public-private partnerships, is vital to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

“Private sector involvement in health insurance schemes can also help drive down costs and make services more accessible, especially for those in the informal sector who often face financial barriers to healthcare access,” Onyemaechi added.

By expanding the scope of health insurance to include private sector players, Onyemaechi believed the country could close the coverage gap and improve health outcomes nationwide. He called for strategic policy adjustments to facilitate these partnerships and ensure that regulatory frameworks support seamless collaboration between public and private entities in the health insurance sector.

Additionally, Onyemaechi urged state governments to work closely with the federal government and private stakeholders to create an enabling environment for sustainable health financing. He also called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring that health insurance schemes in Nigeria deliver equitable and comprehensive coverage for all, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).