Gboyega Akosile Sets The Records Straight on Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Misinformation
Dear Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour,
To start with, the Executive Order by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emanates from the NHIA Act of 2022, which makes Social Health Insurance mandatory for all Nigerians. This means that Nigerians are expected to key into the social health insurance of the states they reside in.
2. The social health insurance plan of Lagos State has an ANNUAL premium of N15,000.00 only per individual and NOT MONTHLY as stated by you.
3. It is necessary to mention that for the informal sector who largely earn their income daily, the pay small small initiative is in existence to provide them the means of paying by installment while still getting access to the same care and services as those that pay annual premium.
4. Also, pertinent to mention that in full consideration of the fact that some residents may still not be able to pay the very affordable premium, the State Government in compliance with the Lagos State Health Scheme Law has allocated the equity fund for coverage of the vulnerable which has been provided since 2022 and indeed Mr. Governor is the first to make equity fund a first-line charge in Nigeria, since 2024. This year, the budget allocation has been tripled from 1billion to 3billion to provide even more funds to be able to cover the vulnerable.
5. While the challenge of Human Resources is incontrovertible and certainly not peculiar to Lagos State, several initiatives are being deployed to address this by Mr. Governor who has initiated the process of establishing a dedicated Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences. This is to bridge the gaps in the doctors to patients ratios.
In the provision of the social health insurance, public private partnerships are pivotal and as such, services can be accessed from both public and private facilities and indeed there are more private facilities on the scheme than public as they typically offer about 60-70% of services in the State.
7. It should be noted that year on year, our budgetary allocations for health keep increasing and Mr. Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s efforts in health are noticeable in physical infrastructure such as the Mother and Child Care hospitals built in Ajah, Badagry and Alimosho. The ongoing New Massey Children’s hospital, which is at 80% completion stage, same with other facilities like the new psychiatric hospital in Ketu-Ereyun, Epe to mention a few. But on the part of Social Health Insurance, it is a health financing initiative that the Government has fully entrenched to be able to provide services to the people while also serving as a means to guarantee income to facilities, which they then utilize to improve the quality and accessibility to service delivery for Lagos Residents. To further show its commitment the State Govt is currently subsidizing the premiums for all public servants and their families as high as up to 75% of the premium cost.
The Health Insurance Fund called LASHEF is ring-fenced and utilized only for the purpose for which it was set up in accordance with the Law. Even pensioners are being covered for free with the approval of MG.
8. Finally, the annual individual premium of 15k covers a wide scope of services both primary and secondary, which is tailored to serve the health needs and address the disease burden of the State. There are testimonials of the positive and life-saving impact this scheme has had and continues to have with respect to all strata of society in Lagos State; including the vulnerable.
Thank you.
‘Gboyega Akosile
SA Media and Publicity to
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
1st April, 2025.
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