The Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), a critical stakeholders in the Nigerian health insurance has vowed to contest the recent reinstatement of the executive secretary of the National Health insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf been investigated for fraud of N919 million.
The organisation condemns presidency for issuing directive on Yusuf’s appointment on 6, February despite the federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has set up a panel recommending that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe the agency for diversion of funds and contravention of the procurement Act.
HMCAN is the umbrella body of all the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria.
“We will contest it in court. You do not expect us to keep quiet; we are already in court over some distortions he made in running affairs of the agency” said Tunde Ladele, president of HMCAN at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday.
Tunde Ladele said that since the appointment of Yusuf no single live (enrollee) has being added to the scheme. The NHIS stalled.
“We are contesting his appointment; because he is not technically sound to run the NHIS and does not relate with critical stakeholders of the scheme.
“We advise in the spirit of transparency, accountability and the stance of government on anti-corruption, the report and investigation should not be swept under the carpet. Doing this will erode public confidence and cast doubt on the sincerity of government” Ladele said.
Ladele, however, said there is hope for health insurance and that everything will get normal again, adding that HMCAN was constantly meeting with other stakeholders to chart the path forward for the scheme.
“We are considering meeting face-to-face with Mr. President and writing an open letter to him, if we cannot have audience with him. We have the assurances of government that investigations of allegations are on-going,”
“We believe in the Nigerian project and we on our part will continue to invest our best efforts in ensuring the highest quality of care at the most equitable cost for millions of our enrollees nationwide. Ultimately this is the mandate of our members and indeed of the NHIS.” he added.
While noting the gravity of the allegations, the president said HMCAN is mindful of the dictum that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
