President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022 into law, which would cover 83 million Nigerians.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by presidential aide Garba Shehu.

He said the bill repeals “the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.

During the signing of the law, Garba Shehu quoted his principal as saying that a Fund will be established “to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.”

“For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations, and gifts to the Authority,” Buhari was quoted as explaining.

Buhari stated that the Authority will work with state government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enrol Nigerians.

This is part of an effort to assure the provision of high-quality health care. In addition, the new Act empowers the Authority and state governments to create information management systems and digital records to improve data collecting, monitoring, and quality assurance.

As a result, the Nigerian leader asked the Health Reform Committee to collaborate with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure that the provisions of the new Act are implemented, according to the statement.