Concerns over healthcare access, illegal charges and poor service delivery have pushed the National Health Insurance Authority to deploy Compliance Officers to accredited healthcare facilities to strengthen oversight and protect enrollees.
The initiative begins with 18 facilities in the Federal Capital Territory as a pilot, with plans for expansion to more facilities across the FCT and other states.
The NHIA says the move is aimed at ensuring providers comply with operational standards and that enrollees receive their entitled benefits under the national health insurance scheme.
The deployment comes as the Federal Government pursues Universal Health Coverage, despite ongoing challenges including delayed treatment, out-of-pocket payments for covered services, medicine shortages and complaints over service quality.
The authority says the officers will monitor compliance, prevent denial of approved services, stop illegal charges, ensure availability of medicines, resolve enrollee complaints and report breaches for action.
The NHIA clarified that the officers will not interfere with medical decisions but will serve as representatives for regulatory oversight, enrollee support and quality assurance.
The agency says the programme will be expanded nationwide after the pilot phase as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen confidence in the health insurance system.
