The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by Prof. Mike Ogrima, President, has beckoned on the Federal Government on the need for a compulsory health insurance for all Nigerians as that is a vital element that will ensure universal health coverage in Nigeria.
According to Prof. Ogrima health should occupy top place in government's priority list without which the country's health index may remain stagnant or even deteriorate.
He added that all Nigerians deserve access to quality healthcare irrespective of where they live. He urged the government to give its attention to actualizing that dream.
“We need compulsory health insurance scheme, social health insurance scheme for our people, we also need more funding in the healthcare system, and these are the ingredients that will ensure universal health coverage so that every Nigerian would be able to access health in any section of the Nigeria they lived.
Health cannot be left in the hands of government alone. We must complement such efforts, however we want to use this opportunity to inform government that it must realise that health should be an important programme in its agenda,” he said.
According to the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos State, Valentine Oluwaseyi Braimoh, medical doctors are a blessing to the country and they must be greatly commended.
He said the people at the grass root level are finding it difficult to treat themselves, hence, the need for local government authorities to find ways of complementing doctors efforts.
