The Federal government has expressed commitment towards expanding health insurance coverage to reach fifty million Nigerians in the next four years.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known at the 40th anniversary celebration of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital UMTH.
Vice President Shettima said one of the primary objectives of Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu was achieving universal health coverage by ensuring that all Nigerians access healthcare in an equitable manner.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas Kolo, the Shettima assured that Nigerians would have access to quality healthcare services through a more strengthened primary and secondary health facilities.
“We will proactively expand insurance coverage, the Government commits to reach at least minimum of 50 million Nigerians by 2027”
He highlighted priorities of President Tinubu’s health agenda to include, health governance, leadership and institutional reforms, health financing and reduce “out of pocket” spending, integrated healthcare delivery, ensure local manufacturing of health products, expand investment on medical education, reverse brain drain and medical tourism.
The vice also announced that the Federal government had approved payment of allowances for Resident Doctors.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum congratulated the Teaching Hospital for the great milestone achieved in the health sector.
He urged the hospital to embrace smart medicine through the use of artificial intelligence, technology and data science to upgrade its services.
The Chief Medical Director, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo said in the last forty years, the hospital had provided services to over thirty three million people thereby increasing the level of patronage by 150 percent.
A Former minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole called on the management of the hospital to focus on training of medical professionals in areas of cancer, kidney and heart disease to take care of special needs of people in the region and beyond.