PSN Threatens Legal Action Against NHIA Over Unfair Practices in Lagos
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Branch, has issued a stern warning to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) over what it described as “unfair and discriminatory practices” against pharmacists in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Speaking during the PSN annual scientific week, the PSN Lagos Branch Chairman, Pharm. Oyekunle Babayemi accused the NHIA of violating the provisions of the NHIA Act by adopting an unlawful payment mechanism known as “Global Capitation.” According to the PSN, this mechanism unfairly distributes funds meant for pharmacists and other healthcare providers.
The PSN Chairman also criticised the NHIA for failing to implement agreements reached with the Lagos State Government regarding the welfare of public sector health workers, including pharmacists.
These agreements, signed over a year ago, addressed issues such as hazard allowance, consultant cadre domestication, retention allowance, and upward review of call/shift/non-clinical duty allowance.
According to Oyekunle Babayemi, “We have exhausted all avenues of dialogue with the NHIA and the Lagos State Government. Despite repeated promises, these issues remain unresolved. We are now left with no option but to seek legal redress.”
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The PSN Lagos Branch has vowed to take legal action against the NHIA and the Lagos State Government if their demands are unmet. The group is also calling on the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that the NHIS is implemented fairly and equitably for all healthcare providers.
“For us in the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State, we just presumed that deliverables would get to consumers of health and that there would be an equivalent spread of benefit packages, rights and privileges to the respective constituents in Nigeria’s team of care providers, but it all proved to be a charade as the unenviable status-quo of only one player perennially superintending the commonwealth of health-workers was only re-defined and consolidated to the advantage of one profession in a multidisciplinary sector.
“This mess started as soon as the Committee of all health professionals which mid-wived the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) procedures submitted its report. That report made vital recommendations which produced the first operational guidelines in the implementation of Social Health Insurance in Nigeria.
“The lawful provision of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act (Now NHIA Act) that still subsists is that the Scheme/Authority recognises only four payment mechanisms which are: Capitation for primary providers (Physicians), Fee for service for secondary providers (Pharmacists, Consultants), Per diem, and Case payment.”
