The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has faulted an announcement made by the Ministry of Defence on the approval of the creation of a new Health Maintenance Organisation for civil servants.
Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, in a statement said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the creation of a new Health Maintenance Organisation to be called, Federal Civil Service Health Maintenance Limited.
Dr Kana emphasised the significance of this initiative, saying that the approval attests to the government’s recognition of the invaluable contributions of its workforce.
Meanwhile, Prof Pate on his X handle said he was very surprised to see the announcement on a matter that is far from being concluded.
The minister explained that the forces that held back progress on health insurance (only about seven per cent of the population or 16 million Nigerians covered in more than 20 years) woke up to undermine efforts to reform the National Health Insurance Authority to accelerate coverage for all Nigerians.
He, however, urged the proponents of the ‘project’ not to conflate power with knowledge.