The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has called on residents of Rivers State to register for its health insurance programme as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF).
NHIA State Coordinator, Mr. Itodu Christopher, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting with Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers held on Friday in Port Harcourt.
Christopher disclosed that arrangements were ongoing to enrol state workers into the Formal Sector Health Insurance Programme, describing it as a major step toward achieving universal health coverage in Rivers State.
He noted that enrolment figures in the state were promising and expressed optimism that increased participation would reinforce the existing BHPF structure.
Christopher also addressed public concerns about the quality of generic drugs prescribed by providers under the scheme. He explained that the use of generics was a globally recognized practice in health insurance systems, but lamented that many Nigerians mistakenly view them as substandard.
