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The House of Representatives has called for a downward review of prices of medicines for beneficiaries under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), in view of the current economic hardship in Nigeria.
To this end, the House in a resolution on Thursday, mandated its joint Committee on Finance, Health Institutions, Healthcare Services, and Specialist Health Services to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Authority, and other relevant agencies to take necessary and urgent measures to that effect.
The committee is expected to ensure a comprehensive review of the medicines price list under the National Health Insurance Scheme and report its findings back within two weeks.
The resolution was sequel to a motion jointly sponsored by Chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria Irish Legislative Relationship, Hon. Paul Nramchi, and Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere on the “Urgent need to Review the National Health Insurance Scheme’s Medicines Price List in View of the Nation’s Present Economic situation”.
The lawmakers observed that the NHIS was as “a critical lifeline for millions of our citizens is envisioned to providing access to affordable, essential and quality healthcare services and medicines for all Nigerians”.
It however, noted that “the nation is grappling with economic hardship, inflationary pressures, and rising costs of living, which have had a profound impact on the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services and medications for many of our citizens at the moment, particularly, the vulnerable and marginalised segments of society.
According to them, “the existing medicines price list under the NHIS framework no longer aligns with the current market dynamics and cost structures of pharmaceutical products as the last NHIS Price list review was in 2021 when the exchange rate was between 400- 420 NGN to 1 USD as against the current official rate of 1,594.34 NGN to 1USD”.
They argued that many vulnerable patients, especially the marginalised segments of the society are finding it increasingly difficult to get essential and quality medications in the health management organizations (HMO’s), leading to adverse health outcomes and exacerbating the burden of illness on our healthcare system.