Leading hospital officials in Kano State have expressed strong approval for the National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) ongoing reforms, praising their substantial benefits-particularly the support extended to women suffering from obstetric fistula and the recent rise in capitation payments to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and healthcare providers.
These initiatives align with the Tinubu administration’s commitment to broadening access to high-quality healthcare across Nigeria, as outlined in the National Health Sector Renewal program spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under Coordinating Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.
Hospital administrators attribute significant improvements in healthcare delivery to the NHIA programs under the leadership of Dr. Kelechi Ohiri. Enhanced tariffs and targeted assistance have facilitated critical advancements such as facility upgrades, expedited treatment authorizations, improved patient care, and streamlined operations, even amid the nation’s economic difficulties.
During a recent evaluation of NHIA’s reform impact, Dr. Hussaini Muhammad, Chief Medical Director of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, emphasized the pivotal role of NHIA’s support in driving progress across multiple areas.
He stated, “The N120,000 obstetric fistula support package-which includes N20,000 for transportation and N100,000 for nutrition-is groundbreaking. Previously, many impoverished patients abandoned treatment due to financial constraints. Now, they not only receive surgical care but also seed funding to rebuild their livelihoods. For instance, one beneficiary launched a small retail business, while another invested in tailoring equipment. This initiative restores dignity and hope.”
Dr. Muhammad also highlighted how NHIA-funded service enhancements and infrastructure renovations have accelerated diagnostic processes and revitalized neglected wards.
“Before these reforms, patients endured lengthy waits for test results. Thanks to automated diagnostic equipment financed by NHIA, results are now available within hours rather than days. This efficiency eliminates patient frustration and fosters greater confidence in our healthcare system. For clinicians, the improved accuracy of automated tests has eliminated doubts about laboratory findings,” he explained.
He further revealed that maternal mortality rates have decreased by approximately 40 percent since NHIA’s interventions eliminated payment delays.
Similarly, Dr. Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, Chief Medical Director of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, described the recent capitation payment increases as transformative for his institution and other healthcare providers.
Dr. Sheshe recounted the challenges prior to NHIA’s involvement: frequent drug shortages due to soaring costs, suspension of eyeglass distribution in the ophthalmology unit, and insufficient internally generated revenue to bridge funding gaps. NHIA’s reforms have markedly improved these conditions.
“The tariff adjustments by NHIA have cut drug shortages by 80 percent. We now procure medications at prevailing market prices, and patients have regained access to eyeglasses. Health Maintenance Organization approvals are processed digitally in under 15 minutes. Fee-for-service enhancements allow us to deliver care immediately, even before formal billing codes are finalized. Just last week, a patient with a diabetic ulcer underwent surgery within an hour instead of waiting five days,” he noted.
Additional endorsements came from Dr. Rahila Aliyu, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, and Dr. Zainab Umar, a consultant family physician at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, who both affirmed the positive outcomes of the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEMONC) program and increased capitation payments.
Aliyu praised the reforms for their life-saving and quality-enhancing elements, emphasizing emergency response capabilities, sustained coverage, and patient-focused care that have collectively improved survival rates and reduced mortality.
Umar added that the rise in capitation and fee-for-service payments has revitalized hospital operations, ensuring full service restoration, better drug availability, and quicker patient processing times.
