Expert calls for mandatory health insurance in Nigeria
Olufemi Fasanmade, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Lagos, has urged the Federal Government to make health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians. He highlighted the financial burden caused by rising cases of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and kidney failure, which are pushing many households into distress. Fasanmade emphasized that voluntary health insurance has failed and only a mandatory system can guarantee universal healthcare access. Other health experts at a recent conference also raised concerns about rising healthcare costs and limited access to essential medicines.
Highlights
- Olufemi Fasanmade called for compulsory health insurance, citing the failure of voluntary enrollment and the need for expanded taxation to fund universal healthcare.
- He noted that less than 10 percent of Nigerians have health insurance, leaving millions at risk of catastrophic health expenses.
- Williams Balogun, President of ACEN, warned that health inflation had reached 30.4 per cent as of January 2026, making treatment unaffordable for many.
- Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, said millions are living with undiagnosed diabetes and that hypertension affects about one in four adults in Oyo State.
- The conference stressed the urgent need for policy, financing, and clinical interventions to improve access to essential medicines and reduce out-of-pocket spending.
