The Lagos State Government has unveiled comprehensive healthcare reforms focused on expanding health insurance coverage, closing funding gaps, and reversing outbound medical tourism. Commissioner for Health Akin Abayomi announced these initiatives during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, as part of activities marking Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s seventh year in office.

The state aims to strengthen healthcare financing through mandatory health insurance and public-private partnerships. Lagos currently allocates approximately eight per cent of its budget to health, which is below the 15 per cent benchmark recommended by the Abuja Declaration. Abayomi noted an estimated N100 billion gap between current health sector allocations and projected healthcare needs.

“There is a gap between what is available to us through our budget and what we ideally want to spend. The blue bar is our current budget while the red bar is our wish budget, and there is a gap of at least N100 billion between what we get and what we want,” Abayomi stated. He attributed this challenge to dwindling donor support and increasing healthcare demands from the state’s growing population. He added, “The answer for us really is two things; health insurance and public-private partnership. This is where we are focused at the moment in Lagos State.”

Mandatory Health Insurance

Governor Sanwo-Olu domesticated the National Health Insurance Authority Act through an Executive Order signed on 16 July 2024, making health insurance mandatory for all Lagos residents. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have begun enforcement, requiring residents to provide evidence of accredited health insurance coverage when seeking government services.

Over 1.46 million residents have been enrolled under the Lagos State Health Management Agency’s Ilera-Eko health insurance scheme, though universal health coverage has not yet been achieved. Abayomi described Nigeria’s current healthcare financing model as unsustainable, with about 77 per cent of healthcare spending coming directly from citizens’ pockets and only two per cent financed through insurance. He said, “Health insurance is the umbrella by which the healthy look after the sick and the rich look after the poor. It is a solidarity phenomenon.”

Reversing Medical Tourism and Capacity Building

The Lagos 2052 Development Plan seeks to establish the state among the top three healthcare destinations in Africa within the next decade. Abayomi articulated a clear goal: “We do not want Lagosians travelling abroad to seek healthcare in Dubai, London, India or South Africa. We want to provide every specialty and subspecialty needed right here in Lagos.”

To support this ambition, approval has been granted for the establishment of a standalone University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Lagos. This institution aims to increase the production of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. The proposed university will decentralise clinical training across primary, secondary, and private healthcare facilities, while also utilising diaspora specialists and existing health system professionals.

Additionally, the government is implementing infrastructure redesign and modernisation projects across various health facilities to enhance patient experience, staff welfare, and service delivery.

Regulation and Patient Safety

Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, emphasised the importance of healthcare regulation and patient safety. She highlighted the critical role of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) in monitoring standards across hospitals, cosmetic medical spas, and other healthcare facilities within the state. “If you do not see the HEFAMAA accreditation sign in a facility, please do not use that facility. If you see something concerning poor and substandard practice, say something,” Ogunyemi advised.

Permanent Secretary for the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dayo Lajide, commended healthcare workers for their resilience and dedication amidst growing pressure on the health system.

Why this matters

This initiative by Lagos State, Nigeria’s most populous state, aligns with broader West African efforts to build domestic healthcare capacity and reduce reliance on international medical travel, particularly to destinations like India and the UAE. It also positions the state to attract regional patients as it strengthens its infrastructure and regulatory framework.

What to watch

  • The enforcement measures requiring residents to provide evidence of accredited health insurance coverage for government services.
  • Progress on the establishment of the standalone University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Lagos.

The news signal for this article was referred from: https://thenationonlineng.net/lagos-targets-mandatory-health-insurance-medical-tourism-reversal/