The Lagos State Government has set December 31, 2026, because the deadline for residents to obtain health insurance, warning that enforcement of the obligatory protection coverage will start on January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu introduced the deadline on Tuesday whereas launching the enforcement of obligatory health insurance underneath Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024.
According to a press release issued by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sanwo-Olu additionally launched the Lagos Private Health Plans to present insurance protection for salaried workers and company organisations.
The new plans are anticipated to complement the present Ilera Eko scheme, which caters to weak residents and other people working within the casual sector.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu gave every resident until 31 December 2026 to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027,” the assertion mentioned.
Speaking at an occasion in Victoria (*31*) attended by authorities officers, healthcare professionals and stakeholders from the private and non-private sectors, the governor mentioned the coverage was designed to be certain that all Lagos residents might entry high quality medical companies with out dealing with monetary difficulties.
He defined that the chief order was not merely supposed to compel enrolment however to assure wider entry to healthcare by way of insurance protection.
“The ultimate objective of the Executive Order went beyond enforcement. It was to ensure that every Lagos resident was covered by health insurance and could access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship,” he mentioned.
The assertion added that people, employers and staff had been all required to take part within the social health insurance system, with the chief order outlining particular duties for residents, companies and the federal government.
He defined that whereas Ilera Eko was designed for weak teams and informal-sector staff, the newly launched non-public health plans would cater to salaried workers and employers.
The governor additionally urged employers to deal with staff’ healthcare as a vital enterprise expense, identical to pension contributions and different statutory employment obligations.
On emergency therapy, Sanwo-Olu harassed that healthcare suppliers should not deny sufferers pressing medical consideration as a result of they lacked cash or insurance protection. He mentioned sufferers should first be stabilised earlier than cost or insurance points had been thought of.
He disclosed that 21 health upkeep organisations had agreed to take part within the new plans, describing the association as a collaboration between the federal government and private-sector operators to widen insurance protection and enhance healthcare supply.
Sanwo-Olu additionally appealed to medical professionals contemplating leaving Nigeria to rethink, arguing that improved healthcare financing might assist strengthen the sector and create a extra sustainable surroundings for practitioners.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, mentioned the rising price of healthcare had been pushed partly by advances in medical know-how, together with synthetic intelligence, robotics and trendy diagnostic tools.
He emphasised the necessity for an inclusive and sustainable health insurance system to protect residents from escalating medical payments whereas guaranteeing entry to high quality companies.
Abayomi described the initiative as a big change in healthcare financing, noting that the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket funds positioned appreciable strain on households and healthcare amenities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, disclosed that the state authorities had raised its Health Equity Fund from N1bn to N3bn to lengthen insurance protection to greater than 500,000 weak residents unable to afford the required premiums.
He mentioned the company would proceed to enhance enrolment, intensify public consciousness and be certain that the coverage translated into accessible healthcare companies throughout the state.
Adedewe added that LASHMA had expanded its group engagement efforts by way of radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with conventional rulers, market associations, transport unions and different grassroots organisations.
