The Managing Director and CEO of Ultimate Health HMO, Lekan Ewenla, has urged the Federal Government to enforce mandatory compliance with the National Health Insurance Programme, a step he believes would greatly benefit Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Ewenla noted that widespread enrollment, as mandated by the 2022 National Health Insurance Act, would increase financial resources in healthcare, providing more support to medical professionals and potentially reducing the emigration of healthcare workers seeking better opportunities abroad.

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Ewenla highlighted that in many developed countries, mandatory health insurance has driven substantial revenue for the health sector, making it an attractive field in terms of remuneration. He suggested that a stronger compliance framework and a well-coordinated publicity campaign could improve public awareness and adherence to the mandatory enrollment law.

Further, Ewenla called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to expedite its review of health insurance principles, such as risk management and the redistribution of enrollees to better manage health risks. He also recommended that the NHIA temporarily halt the accreditation of new Health Management Organisations (HMOs) to strengthen the current providers. Increasing enrollment, he said, would ensure a more stable health sector by enhancing HMO growth and improving conditions for healthcare workers, ultimately benefiting the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.