30th April, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
If granted assent by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, western Nigeria, then it would become compulsory for residents to part of the state health insurance scheme.
Though details of the punishment which comes in the form of fines and other sanctions for those who go against the bill were scanty at the time of this report, the bill is expected to assist the government meet its policy of free health services for selected residents of the state.
House Committee Chairman on Health Services, Suru Hodewu Avoseh, who presented his report before the bill was passed, said the goal of the bill is to improve statistical data, financial security and prompt health care to Lagos residents.
The bill, according Kolawole Taiwo, the Deputy Speaker who presided over the Sitting stated that the bill when passed into Law would assist retirees and other senior citizens on managing their health.
Among other things, the bill covers all employees in the public and private sectors, including the self-employed and the unemployed.
It bill provides “affordable supplementary benefit package of healthcare services for secondary and tertiary care as well as formal health plan and any other component as may be developed by the agency with the approval of its board.”
The bill states that all residents in the formal or informal sector of the state must possess evidence of being covered by the state Health Scheme to avoid sanctions.