The Plateau State Office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has concluded a series of high-level stakeholder engagement meetings aimed at strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers and health insurers, as part of efforts to improve service delivery and advance universal health coverage.
The engagements, held between March 3 and 11, 2026, brought together Healthcare Facilities (HCFs) and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) across the state. According to an official report signed by the State Coordinator, Egwudah Theophilus, the meetings were designed to reinforce compliance with NHIA operational guidelines and address persistent challenges within the system.
The sessions, held at the NHIA Plateau State Office conference room, were structured in four phases, including three meetings with healthcare providers and one with HMOs. Participants engaged in extensive discussions, focusing on accountability, service quality, and adherence to NHIA policies.
A major outcome of the engagement was the renewed directive mandating all healthcare facility staff to enroll under the NHIA scheme. The agency warned that non-compliance could lead to loss of accreditation. In addition, the NHIA reiterated its stance against out-of-pocket payments by enrollees, stressing that facilities found violating this rule would face sanctions.
The report also highlighted the importance of digital transformation in healthcare administration. Facilities were instructed to adopt monthly NHIA registers for enrollee verification, replacing outdated practices such as demanding printed identification documents. Stakeholders were further urged to support the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) validation exercise to prevent disruption of enrollee access to services.
Concerns over delayed payments by HMOs were also addressed. The NHIA directed HMOs to settle outstanding service fees promptly and ensure that capitation payments are not delayed. It further mandated that authorization and referral codes must be issued within one hour to avoid treatment delays.
The State Coordinator noted that the meetings provided a platform for open dialogue, allowing stakeholders to clarify expectations and propose solutions to operational bottlenecks. He emphasized that regular stakeholder forums remain a critical component of NHIA’s strategy to enhance efficiency and foster trust within the system.
To sustain the gains of the engagement, the NHIA outlined several recommendations, including stricter enforcement of compliance rules, intensified awareness campaigns on enrollee obligations, and the introduction of regular medical audits to monitor service quality.
The agency expressed optimism that effective implementation of these measures would boost public confidence in Nigeria’s social health insurance programme and accelerate progress toward achieving universal health coverage.
The stakeholder meetings also featured interactive sessions, including
question-and-answer segments, which addressed concerns ranging from payment structures to verification processes. Attendance was described as strong across all sessions, reflecting growing stakeholder interest in the reform agenda.
The NHIA reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all enrollees receive quality healthcare services without undue financial burden, in line with its national mandate.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
