By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to achieve universal health coverage as the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) engaged Civil Society Organisations under the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP) on the implementation of the Executive Order mandating enrollment into the State Social Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko.
The engagement, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja, brought together health stakeholders, civil society groups, policy advocates and health insurance experts to strengthen awareness and support for compulsory health insurance enrollment across the state.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the Executive Order as a significant step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage in Lagos State.
She said the government remained committed to protecting residents from catastrophic healthcare spending through a sustainable and inclusive health insurance system.
According to Zamba, Lagos became the first state to commence implementation processes following the domestication of the National Health Insurance Act, aimed at expanding healthcare access for residents.
She explained that the engagement with civil society organisations was intended to improve public understanding of the benefits of enrolling in the Ilera Eko Scheme and encourage wider participation.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that enforcement activities commenced earlier in the year after the inauguration of an enforcement team, noting that implementation had been structured into three phases.
She said the first phase focused on Ministries, Departments and Agencies through compliance assessments, enrollment of public servants and contract staff, and the establishment of enrollment desks in strategic locations.
The second phase, she explained, targeted the informal sector through engagements with Local Government Chairmen and grassroots sensitisation campaigns aimed at mobilising artisans, market associations and community leaders.
Zamba added that the third phase was focused on the organised private sector and employers to drive employee enrollment and strengthen private sector participation in healthcare financing.
She described civil society organisations as critical partners in advocacy, awareness creation and community mobilisation, stressing that health insurance should be viewed as a social protection mechanism rather than merely a government programme.
Zamba further noted that the state government was paying particular attention to vulnerable groups, including youths, persons living with disabilities and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Lagos Civil Society Partnership, Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, commended the progress recorded in Lagos’ healthcare system and attributed it to leadership continuity and institutional commitment.
He urged residents to utilise official complaint and feedback channels to improve accountability and service delivery within healthcare institutions.
Adebusoye also advocated stronger digital feedback systems and increased public awareness on the importance of health insurance, noting that many people only appreciate its value during medical emergencies.
Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at LASHMA, Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro, disclosed during a presentation that Lagos residents spent nearly ₦163 billion on healthcare expenses in 2021, highlighting the need for stronger financial risk protection measures.
She explained that the Lagos State Health Scheme Law of 2015 established LASHMA to reduce the financial burden of healthcare while ensuring access to quality services.
Also speaking, Head of Medical Operations at LASHMA, Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe, said the agency operates a technology-driven authorization process for healthcare access, with response timelines averaging 45 minutes.
According to him, the system was designed to prevent treatment errors, inappropriate claims and abuse of the health insurance scheme.
On customer relations, Head of Client Services, Mr. Lanre Green, highlighted residents’ rights and responsibilities under the scheme, stressing that complaints, recommendations and commendations remained vital tools for improving healthcare service delivery.
The engagement ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society groups and residents to ensure broader enrollment and access to healthcare services across Lagos State.
