The Lagos State Government has engaged medical directors of general hospitals across the state to accelerate the implementation of its Executive Order on mandatory social health insurance.
The meeting, organized by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), highlighted the critical role of public secondary health facilities in promoting compliance and advancing universal health coverage.
Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, described the engagement as a major milestone in operationalizing the mandatory social health insurance policy. She explained that the Executive Order, signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on July 16, 2024, and reinforced by a Presidential directive in September 2025, places healthcare providers at the forefront of translating policy into tangible benefits for residents.
Zamba noted that medical directors, as leaders of public secondary healthcare institutions, carry significant responsibility for implementing the policy. General hospitals are expected to verify proof of enrolment, provide services to insured patients, and facilitate on-the-spot registration for uninsured patients at the point of care.
She emphasized that patients in life-threatening emergencies must be stabilized immediately before insurance verification. Treatment provided on the day of enrolment only becomes billable after plan activation, highlighting the need for strict adherence to the guidelines.
Zamba also revealed that LASHMA has introduced enrollee verification systems, provider-led enrolment processes, and a structured emergency services framework, LASHMA-AID, scheduled for formal launch. These initiatives are designed to support hospitals and ensure smooth enforcement of the mandate.
Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, Permanent Secretary of the Health Service Commission (HSC), described the engagement as long overdue, citing growing demand for full implementation of the Social Health Insurance Scheme. She noted that research shows only a small proportion of children accessing care in some public facilities are insured, leaving many families to pay out-of-pocket. She stressed that health insurance provides critical financial protection and is central to achieving universal health coverage.
Mabogunje urged general hospitals, as government-owned secondary facilities, to lead the scheme, noting that their multi-specialty structure positions them to deliver comprehensive insured care. She also called on LASHMA to remain responsive to providers’ concerns, emphasizing that collaboration is key to success.
Mr. Tosin Awosika, LASHMA Coordinator of Regulations, outlined the legal and policy foundations of the Executive Order, noting its alignment with the Lagos State Health Scheme Law and the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022. He highlighted provisions mandating compulsory enrolment, verification before accessing services, and special protections for emergency cases and vulnerable residents.
Awosika said hospitals must establish functional ILERA EKO desks, provide 24-hour support for enrollees, register uninsured patients on-site, and avoid making negative remarks about the scheme. He stressed that hospital compliance is vital to reducing out-of-pocket spending and building public confidence.
Dr. Olumide Sojinrin, Medical Director of Randle General Hospital, pledged the collective support of medical directors to the Health Service Commission and the insurance program, noting that the mandatory nature of the scheme leaves no room for retreat.
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