The Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, says inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities will soon benefit from health insurance coverage to enhance healthcare access for vulnerable groups.
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‎Ohiri said this during the quarterly media conference organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, on Thursday in Abuja.
‎He said the approval was granted by the Ministerial Oversight Committee, MOC, to enable the NHIA, in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, provide insurance coverage for inmates as a vulnerable population.
‎The NHIA DG said the initiative was part of efforts to build a resilient and sustainable healthcare financing system that would reduce dependence on donor funding.
‎Ohiri explained that the collaboration with the NCoS followed discussions initiated several months ago after the Controller-General of the service raised concerns about healthcare access for inmates.
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‎He noted that the discussions between the two organisations led to the approval by the MOC to enhance financial access to healthcare services for inmates.
‎The NHIA chief executive further said inmates would be assigned to appropriate healthcare facilities for primary care and referrals where necessary.
‎He explained that inmates already covered under state health insurance schemes would be excluded to avoid duplication.
‎Ohiri also said the NHIA would provide quarterly updates to the MOC on the progress of the programme.
The Fedral Government had approved N40.7bn for healthcare delivery through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF, for the third quarter of 2026 while the MOC had decided to extend coverage under the Vulnerable Group Health  Insurance Fund to prisoners in Nigeria.
NAN
