Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced the plan on Monday at the opening of a four-day national policy dialogue on health financing in Abuja. He said the initiative will ease the heavy out-of-pocket spending on healthcare, which currently accounts for about 70 percent of national health expenses.
Salako explained that the scheme will build on the National Health Insurance Act of 2022, which makes coverage mandatory and establishes a fund for vulnerable groups. He also revealed that government is considering raising the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund allocation from one to two percent of federal revenue to strengthen support for the poor.
Coordinating Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, added that Nigeria must boost domestic investment in health rather than rely on foreign aid, while NHIA officials emphasized equity and collaboration as key to achieving sustainable financing.
