As negotiations commence between health maintenance organizations HMOs and healthcare providers in Nigeria, there are fears that Nigerians who benefit from the scheme could see a hike in the tariffs being paid. This is a fallout from the lingering dispute between these organizations and the healthcare providers they service.
The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners ANPMP had earlier declared that it would stop rendering services to patients with insurance covers under the HMO scheme by February 1, citing low tariffs and debts owed to them.
On Thursday, Professor Mohammed Sambo, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) called for a meeting between HMOs and providers in order to fashion out a premium agreeable to both parties. An estimated 10 million Nigerians benefit from this scheme through their employers. Although this figure is low compared to the much more uninsured in Nigeria, it has closed the gap for those who have access to it.
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Previously, the ANPMP called for an upward review of their tariffs owing to the general inflation being experienced in Nigeria as well as the rising cost of goods and services; which it says does not exclude hospitals and other health providers.