Experts urge Buhari to sign FCT Health Insurance bill

Stakeholders in the health sector have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Insurance Agency (establishment) bill into law.

They made the call yesterday during a round table with the media in Abuja.

A public health expert, Dr Lola Mabogunje, said the bill was for an act to establish the FCT health insurance agency to provide comprehensive, quality and affordable health services for all residents of the FCT.

She said signing the bill into law would enable everyone in the FCT access healthcare without suffering financial hardships.

She said it would also provide access to medical care for people in vulnerable situations and poor households.

She said 34 states had passed their various state health insurance acts leaving only the FCT and a few states.

“If the president signs the bill into law, people will have access to health; and be encouraged to go to the hospital. They will also get drugs free,” she said.

The Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) Director, Dr Ahmed Danfulani, said the scheme had yet to have a legal backing, adding that it was awaiting presidential assent after passage by the National Assembly.

The Deputy Director in charge of FHIS Operations, Dr Amina Zakari, explained that the scheme was launched in 2006 but commenced in 2009 with the aim of protecting individuals and households from huge medical bills and providing access to quality and affordable healthcare.

She said,” Enrollees of the scheme have access to quality primary and secondary services through a network of 200 healthcare providers.”