SANWO-OLU GIVES LAGOS RESIDENTS UNTIL DECEMBER 31 TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday launched the enforcement of mandatory health insurance in the state under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024.
The governor also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), a scheme designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations, complementing the existing Ilera Eko programme, which caters to vulnerable residents and those in the informal sector.
Sanwo-Olu gave residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance coverage, with enforcement scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027. He also inaugurated two boards to support the implementation of the initiative.
Speaking at an event held in Victoria Island, tagged “Lagos Covered, A Shared Commitment, A Healthier Lagos,” the governor said the objective of the executive order went beyond enforcement, stressing that it was aimed at ensuring every resident could access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
The event was attended by government officials, healthcare practitioners and stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
Sanwo-Olu said every resident, employer and worker in Lagos was required to have social health insurance, adding that the executive order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and the government.
He explained that while Ilera Eko served vulnerable residents and the informal sector, the newly introduced private health plans would cater to salaried workers and employers, ensuring that different categories of residents could access suitable healthcare packages.
The governor stressed that employers must regard workers’ healthcare as a necessary business expense, just like pension contributions and other employment-related obligations.
He also maintained that healthcare providers must not deny patients emergency medical attention because of financial constraints, insisting that patients should first be stabilised before payment or insurance issues were addressed.
According to him, 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new plans, describing the arrangement as a partnership between the government and private operators to expand insurance coverage and improve healthcare delivery.
Sanwo-Olu also appealed to medical professionals considering emigration to reconsider their decisions, arguing that improved healthcare financing could strengthen the sector and create a more sustainable working environment for practitioners.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said advances in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics and modern diagnostic equipment, had significantly increased the cost of healthcare delivery.
He stressed the need for a strong and inclusive health insurance system to protect residents from rising medical expenses while ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
Abayomi described the initiative as a major shift in healthcare financing in Lagos, noting that the current reliance on out-of-pocket payments placed excessive financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, disclosed that the state government had increased its Health Equity Fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to provide insurance coverage for more than 500,000 vulnerable residents unable to afford the required premiums.
Adedewe said LASHMA would continue to expand enrolment, intensify public awareness and ensure that the policy translated into accessible healthcare for residents.
He added that the agency had strengthened community engagement through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.
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