Lagos: The Ultimate Health Management Services, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), has launched its Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) – U-Health Gifship – aimed at the informal sector. Dr. Lekan Ewenla, Managing Director of the HMO, announced at the inauguration in Lagos that Gifship is designed for small and medium-scale enterprises within the informal sector.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Gifship product operates under the benefit package of the Federal Government-approved National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) 2005, providing a range of healthcare services. Dr. Ewenla highlighted that while the NHIS was originally intended for civil servants in the formal sector, the Gifship product focuses on the over 85 percent of Nigerians in the informal sector. With an annual premium of N38,780, enrollees of the Gifship health scheme can be covered as individuals, groups, or families for one year.
Dr. Ewenla further explained, “The essence of this product is t
o ensure that the over 160 million out of the 200 million Nigerians operating in the informal sector have access to quality, timely, and affordable healthcare services they need. Ultimate HMO is the first to design a health insurance package specifically targeting the informal sector. We have been driving this business over the years through innovations and strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders. A dual identification card – both soft and hard copy – has been created for enrollees to facilitate easy access to healthcare services anytime, any day.”
Dr. Madu Chima, Assistant General Manager of Ultimate Health HMO, provided an overview of the Gifship product benefit package, which includes health consultation, medication, cancer care, and investigation services. He mentioned that management of chronic conditions, in-patient services, accident and emergency services, ultrasound scans, pediatric and dental services are among the other benefits of the product. The goal of U-Health Gifship is to penetrat
e the informal sector and ensure healthcare services for all Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Femi Adeoye, praised Ultimate Health for the initiative, calling it “timely and necessary.” Represented by Dr. Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, the State Coordinator, NHIA, Adeoye encouraged Nigerians to take advantage of the initiative to improve their health. “The benefit package is robust. Let every Nigerian have health insurance. The health poverty in Nigeria has to come down. To ensure effectiveness, the NHIA will be actively involved in monitoring what hospitals and healthcare providers are doing,” Adeoye stated.
Representatives from the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce, and NewGate Hospital also delivered goodwill messages at the event.