The Lagos State Chairman of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Makinde Akinlemibola says the proposed increase in the tariff of private health insurance scheme is necessary to reflect the current economic changes and reality.
According to Akinlemibola, the present tariff of health insurance can no longer provide adequate health services for the people.
LN247News had reported on Tuesday that a Health HMO had flayed the proposed tariff hike.
The Managing Director, Ultimate Health HMO, Lekan Ewenla, had described as ill-timed the proposed tariff increase in the private health insurance scheme.
According to the HMO boss, the proposal by the AGPMPN is not achievable and capable of disrupting the operations of the organised private sector.
However, speaking with Pressmen in an interview, the Lagos state chairman of AGPMPN also clarified that the last time there was an increase in the tariff was 10 years ago.
“The last time there was an increase in tariff was about 10 years ago for example. That was when the capitation was increased from N500 to N750 naira.
“Look at the rate of naira depreciation from then till now. The majority of the medications are imported, the ones not imported have most of the raw materials for their productions imported,” he said.
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Speaking further Akinlemibola said, “The major personnel used by providers to run the scheme, that is doctors and nurses, are hard to come by now. Where you are fortunate to get them, the remuneration required to keep them has tripled,” he explained.
Akinlemibola, however, stated that the association has the best interest of the people at heart while insisting that the health insurance scheme is still the cheapest means of accessing good health care in the country.
He urged the government and the regulatory bodies to do more to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services at all times.
Akinlemibola, however, assured the association was ready to negotiate but noted that “reason and fairness would be the watchword throughout this negotiation.”
