NHIA Debunks Phone Tax In National Health Insurance Authority Act 2021
See all the latest health news in Nigeria here
The National Health Insurance Authority has debunked claims of phone tax in the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2021.
The NHIA said that contrary to wide reports about the phone tax, the country is yet to approve it officially.
The NHIA Head of Media and Public Relations posted on its website, that Nigerians should wait.
The officer urged other stakeholders to await the official unveiling of the document in June.
This online health news platform reports that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new bill into law on May 19. It was named National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022.
President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu spoke about the new law.
He said the law repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,
Buhari said at the signing of the new law that a Fund will be set up “to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.”
See the latest health news in Nigeria on NHIA Bill 2021
He explained:
“For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations and gifts to the Authority.”
The President said the Authority will team up with state government Health Insurance Schemes to:
NHIA said efforts to fight the poverty caused by out-of-pocket expenses for health care, through health insurance for all categories of Nigerians by 2030 are now more realisable than ever before.
It said:
“It is worthy to note that the Act establishes and empowers the NHIA to ensure the provision of health insurance for all Nigerians through a mandatory mechanism, in collaboration with state health insurance agencies.
“Specifically, Sections 25 and 26 of the Act establish the Vulnerable Group Fund, indicating the various sources from which funding would be drawn.
“Furthermore, the legislation strengthens the NHIA to discharge a wide range of regulatory and promotion functions to ultimately ensure that every Nigerian receives access to quality and affordable health care.
“In relation to the Act, the NHIA wishes to state clearly that the legislation that Mr President assented to does not make provision for a telecoms tax as a source of funding in the law contrary to hasty reports in some exuberant national media.
“In any event, while the NHIA understands the excitement around the new law, it craves the patience of stakeholders and industry watchers including the media to wait for a formal unveiling of the document in days ahead.”
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
