Korede Abdullah in Lagos
To expand access to quality healthcare for all residents, the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), on Wednesday engaged over 800 healthcare providers at the 2025 ILERA EKO Annual Provider Forum in Lagos.
Themed “Driving Universal Health Coverage through Strategic Partnerships,” the high-level forum reviewed progress and unveiled far-reaching reforms to strengthen the state’s health insurance scheme.
Chairman of the LASHMA Board, Dr. Adebayo Adedewe, praised healthcare providers as “the bedrock of the ILERA EKO scheme,” announcing performance-based categorisation, essential drug provision, and a revised tariff structure to ease economic pressures.
“We have also expanded access by integrating community pharmacies into the scheme, thereby broadening reach and ensuring continuity of care,” Adedewe added.
Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed that the mandatory health insurance policy in Lagos will be enforced from early 2026, following an Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in July 2024.
“We are focused on ensuring that all residents are adequately sensitized and onboarded before enforcement begins,” Zamba said, describing the scheme as “a vital financial protection mechanism for households.”
She revealed that the agency’s provider network has grown to over 865, with biometric verification systems now enabling real-time identity confirmation to curb fraud. “This technological upgrade enhances accountability and ensures targeted service delivery for enrollees,” she noted.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, emphasized that “health insurance is a win-win—it guarantees sustainability for providers while protecting citizens from catastrophic health expenditures.”
Stakeholders, including Mrs. Biola Paul-Ozieh of the Healthcare Providers’ Association of Nigeria and Mrs. Njide Ndili of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, commended LASHMA’s pace-setting role but urged continuous tariff reviews, innovation incentives, and quality care.
“When citizens believe in the quality of care, they are more willing to prepay—and that drives sustainability,” Ndili said.
The event concluded with awards for outstanding providers, as stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to an inclusive and sustainable healthcare system in Lagos.
