LASHMA moves to enforce mandatory health insurance in hospitals
By Zainab Olufemi The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) said it will soon commence enforcement of mandatory health insurance across hospitals in the state. Permanent Secretary of the agency,
By Zainab Olufemi
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) said it will soon commence enforcement of mandatory health insurance across hospitals in the state.
Permanent Secretary of the agency, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this at the First Quarter 2026 Healthcare Providers’ Engagement Meeting held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Zamba said the move followed months of sensitisation of residents on the mandatory social health insurance scheme, noting that enforcement would ensure wider coverage and improved financial protection.
“This engagement is to assess the preparedness of healthcare providers for enforcement and forms part of our quarterly stakeholder forum to promote transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement,” she said.
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Represented by the Coordinator Regulations, Tosin Awosika, the Permanent Secretary said enforcement activities had already commenced in February across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and would be extended in phases to public and private healthcare facilities, as well as the informal and formal sectors.
She said that the enforcement drive was not punitive but aimed at ensuring compliance with existing laws and protecting residents from high out-of-pocket medical expenses.
“We are not out to victimise anyone. Our goal is to ensure that every Lagos resident is captured under a structured health insurance plan,” she said.
Zamba noted that with Lagos’ population estimated at nearly 30 million, enrollment figures must improve significantly for the state to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
She stressed that healthcare providers play a critical role in driving enrolment, urging them to establish functional enrolment desks within their facilities to register uninsured patients.
The Permanent Secretary also reiterated that patients must be stabilised in life-threatening emergencies before any request for proof of health insurance, in line with existing regulations.
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She added that uninsured patients should be enrolled at provider-led centres or directed appropriately for registration.
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Zamba disclosed that LASHMA had begun compliance and readiness visits to empanelled facilities to assess operational standards, documentation processes, and adherence to scheme guidelines.
She noted that recent reviews showed that many challenges in the system were linked to poor clinical documentation, urging providers to prioritise proper record-keeping and adherence to treatment protocols.
Zamba further directed healthcare providers to ensure their staff is enrolled under the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan, stressing that workers in the sector must lead by example.
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“Healthcare facilities must enrol their staff on the scheme. Protection must start from within,” she said.
She also affirmed collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to strengthen regulatory oversight and align enforcement strategies.
Zamba encouraged feedback from stakeholders, assuring that inputs from previous engagements were being incorporated into ongoing reforms.
She said the agency remained committed to building a system that guarantees access, ensures quality, and strengthens trust.
