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| Sub-Saharan Africa Press Releases |
IFC and Nigeria’s Health Insurance Scheme to Widen Insurance Coverage in Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria/Washington, D.C., October
21, 2009 - IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Nigeria’s National
Health Insurance Scheme announced today that they will work together to
help extend health insurance to more Nigerians.
IFC and NHIS signed an agreement to
develop an information technology system and new business practices to
enhance the performance of NHIS and expand health insurance coverage in
Nigeria. The partnership will also include a review of laws, regulations,
and institutions that govern the health care sector. In addition, IFC and
NHIS will devise a strategy to finance improvements.
Mohammed Dogo-Muhammad, NHIS’s CEO
and Executive Secretary, said, “NHIS is pleased to partner with IFC on
this important initiative to improve efficiency and performance of Nigeria’s
health insurance system and ultimately increase access to health care for
all — a priority for the Nigerian government.”
Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Country
Manager for Nigeria, said, “By implementing reforms based on international
best practices, IFC and NHIS will help improve Nigeria’s health insurance,
ensure its sustainability, and bring health care to Nigerians that need
it the most.”
IFC places a high priority on increasing
access to health care for people of all income levels and raising standards
of quality and efficiency in the sector. This initiative is part
of the larger IFC-World Bank strategy to support improvements to health
care in Sub-Saharan Africa.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to
escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic
growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development,
mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation
services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $15
billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries
during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About NHIS
Nigeria’s National Health Insurance
Scheme was established in 1999 to regulate and administer social health
insurance in Nigeria. NHIS currently covers about 4.5 million people, about
three percent of the country’s population. Nigeria’s leadership has identified
the scaling-up of NHIS to reach 100 percent coverage by 2015 as a top national
priority. For more information, visit www.nhis.gov.ng.
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