The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced the expansion of its health insurance scheme to include people living with HIV (PLHIV) and tuberculosis (TB) patients. The landmark development, which is being piloted across four states, marks a major step towards universal health coverage in Nigeria.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar Haruna, Acting Director of the NHIA Lagos Regional Office, who represented the Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, confirmed that the initiative is part of the Authority’s renewed commitment to providing inclusive healthcare.
“As of June 2025, NHIA has achieved 20 million enrollees nationwide, a significant increase from 16.8 million in 2023. This is a 99 percent achievement of the presidential mandate set for 2027, and we are ahead of schedule,” Haruna said.
She further disclosed that an additional 800,000 beneficiaries were captured under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), bringing the total number of BHCPF beneficiaries to 2.6 million as of May 2025.
The NHIA’s decision to expand coverage to HIV and TB patients is expected to ease the financial burden of treatment for thousands of Nigerians. According to Haruna, the inclusion is part of a broader strategy to address long-standing inequities in access to essential health services.
“Expanding health insurance to cover extreme health cases such as HIV and TB is a critical intervention. These pilots in four states are designed to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the journey towards universal health coverage,” she said.
Healthcare experts have long advocated for this move, noting that the high cost of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and TB management has pushed many patients into financial hardship. With this development, enrollees with these conditions will now access subsidized or fully covered care under NHIA’s health plans.
The NHIA also announced several strategic reforms aimed at improving healthcare service delivery. These include:
Revision of Tariffs and Accreditation Processes: To ensure healthcare providers receive fair compensation and maintain high standards of care.
One-Hour Authorization for Care: A new policy mandates that care authorization should not exceed one hour, reducing delays in treatment approvals.
Addressing Drug Shortages: The NHIA has embarked on a multi-project strategy to mitigate frequent medicine shortages, denial of care, and delays in provider payments.
“These interventions are designed to rebuild trust in the health insurance system, ensuring timely access to care and improved quality of services for all enrollees,” Haruna stated.
Health experts and stakeholders in the insurance sector have lauded NHIA’s latest achievements, describing them as a turning point in Nigeria’s health insurance journey. According to public health analyst Dr. Femi Adebayo, expanding coverage to HIV and TB patients demonstrates a strong political and institutional will to address public health challenges.
“This move will not only reduce out-of-pocket spending but also improve treatment adherence, especially for HIV patients who require uninterrupted access to antiretroviral therapy,” he said.
Similarly, members of the Organised Private Sector expressed optimism that improved health insurance coverage will enhance workforce productivity and reduce absenteeism due to chronic illnesses.
While the NHIA has surpassed its enrollment targets, experts have stressed the need to sustain the momentum through increased funding, public awareness campaigns, and effective collaboration with state health insurance agencies.
Dr. Ohiri, in his earlier policy statements, emphasized that NHIA’s goal remains achieving universal health coverage for all Nigerians by 2030. With 20 million Nigerians now enrolled, the Authority is closer than ever to bridging the healthcare access gap.