The Lagos State government has taken a decisive action on the issue of mandatory health insurance scheme for workers.
This it has done with the commencement of enforcement of the policy in the state.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has just directed residents, employers and workers to obtain a health insurance coverage before the end of 2026.
Enforcement of the mandatory health insurance policy under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024 would commence on January 1, 2027, meaning that residents still have a window up to December 31, 2026, to secure coverage.
Speaking during the unveiling of the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), with the theme: “Lagos Covered, a Shared Commitment, a Healthier Lagos,” Sanwo-olu stated that health insurance was necessary to improve access to healthcare and protect households from the financial burden of medical treatment.
He said that the executive order on the mandatory health insurance programme, placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and the government, and that employers must regard workers’ healthcare as a necessary cost of doing business.
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Drawing a distinction with existing health programme, the governor said that while the Ilera Eko focused on vulnerable residents and the informal sector, the new private health plans would cater to salaried workers and employers.
He thus warned that financial constraints must not make healthcare providers turn away patients requiring emergency medical attention.
Informing that the new policy was a partnership between the state government and private operators to expand coverage and strengthen healthcare delivery, he added that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new plans.
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