It will take another rigorous legislative process if President Muhammadu Buhari does not assent to the bill repealing the National Health Insurance Scheme Act on or before midnight of May 29.
Discussions centered on how to fast-track the passage of the bill by urging the president to give a nod before the transition into a new administration.Ben Anyene, chairman of the HRSC, said the most important about the new act is that it makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians. “It will be another long journey for the incoming 9th assembly that might even want to do something new. Besides, most of us advocating for this bill are not returning to the new assembly,” said Mr Tejuoso, the outgoing senator representing Ogun Central.There has been repeated calls for a repeal of the NHIS Act and the enactment of a new one.
Titled “National Health Insurance Act Bill 2019”, the new bill, when made law is expected to invalidate some aspects of the old law . Gafar Alawode, the anchor of the meeting, urged participants to use their various platforms to make advocacy calls for the presidential assent.Mr Tejuoso said, “owners of HMOs are kicking against the bill because the new act says states can run their health insurance with the services of HMOs.”In a press statement issued before commencement of the meeting, Mr Tejuoso outlined many of the challenges in the NHIS Act to be revoked with the new bill.