The Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Yusuf Usman, has accused Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) of ‘feeding fat’ from contributions of enrolees without rendering commensurate services.

Yusuf who spoke at a meeting of Standing Committee members of the scheme and HMOs in Abuja yesterday, said the scheme should deploy the strength and goodwill of the people and government to satisfy enrolees. He urged all stakeholders to realign their focus and operations towards that objective, saying stakeholders operating under the scheme would henceforth be held accountable for their performance, including the handling of funds.

He charged the HMOs to ensure that enrolees do not only receive quality service at every point of need, but are also accorded respect and dignity. He warned that maximum sanction would in the future be applied in all cases of breach of moral and financial trust against any industry player. Yusuf who said the time had come for enrolees to reap the benefits of their insurance contributions rather than being treated shabbily in hospitals.

“The enrolee has no one to complain to. Most of you guys are in Lagos. When they call you in distress, you are rude, and drop calls on them. Yet you collect their money. It is their money, not your money, not government money. They give you easy money. Yet when they go to hospitals, they are treated like trash. This has to change,” he warned.

He advised all HMOs to become “more innovative and nimble”, and embark on aggressive marketing as the era of allocation of enrolees by NHIS or government was over. He also cautioned politicians who believe that the NHIS is an ATM from where they could access free funds, saying “it is no longer business as usual”.

The Managing Director of the United Healthcare Ltd, who is also the President of Health Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), Dr. Kolawole Owoka, appealed to state governments to embrace health insurance for the benefit of their people if universal health coverage should be attained in the country.

In a related development, the Nasarawa State co-coordinator of the NHIS, Monica Saror, yesterday warned HMOs against corrupt practices and tampering with rights of the enrolees.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organized by the NHIS in Akwanga, she said the scheme had zero tolerance for corruption and urged HMOs and health care providers to always respect the rights of enrolees.

Daily Trust - Friday August 26, 2016

What is your take on this?

The way hospital officials treat NHIS patients is quite disrespectful. Especially in general hospitals. They are treated like second class citizens without regard.

Unfortunate.

Trunaijian:
The way hospital officials treat NHIS patients is quite disrespectful. Especially in general hospitals. They are treated like second class citizens without regard.

Unfortunate.

That's true talk. Even in private hospitals. Most don't have the facility and human capital to attend to the applicants. When you request for transfer, they will just wait for nothing. At the end, the individual will still spend his/her money for health care. It's more like a scam.

icarenetwork:
That's true talk. Even in private hospitals. Most don't have the facility and human capital to attend to the applicants. When you request for transfer, they will just wait for nothing. At the end, the individual will still spend his/her money for health care. It's more like a scam.

Don't request for transfer from any hospital. Either fill a form with your HMO or change it yourself via NHIS website. I recommend this DIY

Gboliwe:


Don't request for transfer from any hospital. Either fill a form with your HMO or change it yourself via NHIS website. I recommend this DIY

Noted. Thanks.

Current health insurance policies focus on curing illnesses rather than preventing them.

icarenetwork:
Current health insurance policies focus on curing illnesses rather than preventing them.

What is your point now?

Gboliwe:


What is your point now?

Most HMO are not creative in their services. Insurance as we all know is design for emergency situations. Most health insurance program out there are model the same way. I have been to several companies and also find out that many of the workers have never had any engagement with their HMO in the past year. The implication is that most of these persons are only waiting to get sick or develop a health concern before they patronize their HMO. In order word, the HMO are not creative and that is the message the NHIS secretary is passing across. Meanwhile, the best form of treatment for most of the chronic diseases out there is prevention. That is only possible through effective public health education and preventive diagnosis. That is why in developed countries, organizations are now shifting to wellbeing program that focus on the overall health of the people. Although that does not stop them from having an insurance policy in place for emergency cases.

Mcheeeew

Thank God for this man i beg help drum the thing into their ears say no be free na pay we dey pay.

icarenetwork:
Most HMO are not creative in their services. Insurance as we all know is design for emergency situations. Most health insurance program out there are model the same way. I have been to several companies and also find out that many of the workers have never had any engagement with their HMO in the past year. The implication is that most of these persons are only waiting to get sick or develop a health concern before they patronize their HMO. In order word, the HMO are not creative and that is the message the NHIS secretary is passing across. Meanwhile, the best form of treatment for most of the chronic diseases out there is prevention. That is only possible through effective public health education and preventive diagnosis. That is why in developed countries, organizations are now shifting to wellbeing program that focus on the overall health of the people. Although that does not stop them from having an insurance policy in place for emergency cases.

HMOs are collecting money but not providing services - thats the message he's passing across. If you've been to an NHIS centre, you'll appreciate what he's talking about.

It has nothing to do with preventive medicine, which, BTW, is not the job of the HMOs

plendil:


HMOs are collecting money but not providing services - thats the message he's passing across. If you've been to an NHIS centre, you'll appreciate what he's talking about.

It has nothing to do with preventive medicine, which, BTW, is not the job of the HMOs

OK. You are on point