Health insurance is now compulsory for everybody in Lagos State as the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has yesterday flagged off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance in the State under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024.
The Governor also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations, complementing the existing Ilera Eko scheme for vulnerable residents and the informal sector.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave every resident until 31 December 2026 to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027. He also inaugurated two boards to support the initiative.
Speaking at an event attended by government officials, health practitioners and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, held at Victoria Island, tagged “Lagos covered, a shared commitment, a healthier Lagos”, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the ultimate objective of the Executive Order went beyond enforcement, noting that it was to ensure that every Lagos resident was covered by health insurance and could access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.
He said every resident, employer and worker in Lagos was required to have social health insurance, noting that the Executive Order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and government.
Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that while Ilera Eko catered to vulnerable residents and the informal sector, the new health insurance plans would address the needs of salaried workers and employers, ensuring that everyone had access to an appropriate healthcare package.
He stressed that employers must consider workers’ healthcare a necessary cost of doing business, just as they made provisions for pensions and other employment-related obligations.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also emphasised that no healthcare provider should turn away residents requiring emergency medical attention because of financial constraints, stressing that patients must first be stabilised before issues relating to payment or insurance coverage were addressed.
He disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new plans, describing the arrangement as a partnership between government and private operators to expand coverage and strengthen healthcare delivery.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also urged medical professionals considering emigration to reconsider, arguing that improved healthcare financing could strengthen the sector and make it more sustainable for practitioners.
Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that advancements in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotic science and modern diagnostic equipment, had significantly increased the cost of healthcare delivery.
He also emphasised the importance of a strong and inclusive health insurance system to protect residents from rising medical expenses while ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
Prof. Abayomi described the launch as a major shift in how healthcare would be financed in Lagos, arguing that the current dependence on out-of-pocket payments placed excessive financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Adebayo Adedewe, hinted that the State Government had increased its Health Equity Fund from N1 billion to N3 billion to provide health insurance coverage for over 500,000 vulnerable residents who could not afford the required premiums.
He said LASHMA would continue to expand enrolment, strengthen public awareness and ensure that the new policy translated into accessible healthcare for residents.
He said the agency had intensified community engagement through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.
