SUNU Health urges stronger laws to expand Nigeria's health insurance

Dr Moyosore Olomola, Managing Director of SUNU Health Nigeria Ltd., called for stronger legislation to accelerate universal health coverage in Nigeria. He said the country currently has about 22 million insured people, far short of the National Health Insurance Authority’s target of 44 million by 2030, and urged closer collaboration among the NHIA, private Health Maintenance Organisations, healthcare providers and lawmakers.

Olomola advocated a transparent tariff‑review mechanism linked to health‑care inflation, stricter enforcement of mandatory employer enrolment under the NHIA Act, predictable funding through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and a formal dispute‑resolution framework between HMOs and the regulator. He also proposed a provider‑accountability framework that would sanction facilities that deny services to insured patients or demand unauthorised payments, including suspension from NHIA accreditation and public disclosure. The proposals were presented to Hon. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services.