Public secondary health facilities in Lagos State are gearing up to implement the mandatory social health insurance policy, following a strategic meeting between the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and Medical Directors of General Hospitals.
The meeting, held on Tuesday at Ikeja, focused on accelerating implementation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order mandating health insurance coverage for all Lagos residents, with general hospitals identified as critical drivers of compliance and service delivery, reports Daily Independent.
Speaking, Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the engagement as a key step in translating the Executive Order, signed on July 16, 2024, into tangible benefits for residents. She noted that the policy, further reinforced by a Presidential directive in September 2025, places healthcare providers at the centre of achieving universal health coverage in the state.
Zamba said Medical Directors, as leaders of public secondary healthcare institutions, carry a major responsibility for operationalising the mandate.
She explained that General Hospitals are expected to verify proof of enrolment under the Lagos State Health Scheme, deliver services to insured patients and ensure that uninsured patients are registered on the spot at the point of care.
She clarified that in line with the Executive Order, no patient requiring emergency care should be denied immediate stabilisation, regardless of insurance status.
However, she added that treatment provided on the day of enrolment would only become billable after activation of the insurance plan, stressing the importance of strict adherence to approved operational guidelines.
According to her, LASHMA has put in place several support mechanisms to aid hospitals, including enrollee verification systems, provider-led enrolment processes and a structured emergency care framework known as LASHMA-AID, which is scheduled for formal launch on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Zamba reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continuous improvement, noting that the engagement created space to identify bottlenecks, clarify grey areas and strengthen collaboration between LASHMA and healthcare providers.
Drawing inspiration from the 2025 Universal Health Coverage Day theme, she said many residents are “truly sick of paying out-of-pocket” for healthcare, urging hospitals to help change the narrative through effective implementation of the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme.
Also, Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, described the meeting as timely, given increasing public demand for full implementation of the Social Health Insurance Scheme. She said the forum allowed for frank discussions on the realities facing hospitals and practical steps to improve enrolment and service delivery.
Mabogunje cited research findings showing that only a small proportion of children accessing care in some public facilities were covered by health insurance, leaving the majority of families exposed to out-of-pocket payments. She stressed that health insurance provides financial protection and peace of mind, which are central to achieving universal health coverage.
She urged general hospitals to lead by example, noting that as government-owned, multi-specialty facilities, they are uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive insured care. She also called on LASHMA to remain responsive to provider concerns, emphasising that sustained collaboration would be essential for success.
In a presentation, LASHMA’s Coordinator of Regulations, Mr. Tosin Awosika, outlined the legal and policy foundations of the Executive Order, explaining that it aligns the Lagos State Health Scheme Law with the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022.
He highlighted provisions on compulsory enrolment, verification before access to services and special protections for emergency cases and vulnerable groups.
Awosika said healthcare facilities are expected to establish functional ILERA EKO desks, provide round-the-clock support for enrollees, carry out on-site registration of uninsured patients and avoid actions or remarks that could undermine public confidence in the scheme.
Addressing service delivery issues, Head of ILERA EKO Medical at LASHMA, Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe, spoke on recurring challenges identified through enrollee feedback and monitoring. He called for improved internal coordination within hospitals, proper interpretation of benefit packages and attention to staffing and workflow gaps, while requesting dedicated communication channels between hospitals and the agency.
