Lagos — NIGERIA's health insurance sector would generate N3 trillion annually from 2020, Chief Executive National Health Insurance Scheme Dr. Mohammed Dogo-Mohammad has said.

Currently, the NHIS has disbursed over N23 billion to healthcare service providers registered under it as at 2007. Dogo-Mohammad disclosed at an NHIS/HMO forum in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Represented by the National Health Insurance Coordinator, South-South, Mr. Nasiru Ilaru, he explained that about 2.5 million Nigerians were currently benefiting from the scheme.

No fewer than 7,850 service providers and 39 Health Maintenance Organisations have registered with the scheme operating in every part of the country. But he regretted that the Federal Government's contribution to the health care delivery system in the country was "grossly inadequate".

"In comparative terms and with other African nations Nigeria has made the least contribution to the health sector.

Consequetly, individuals bear the heaviest burden in health sector financing" and made a case for immediate reversal of the situation in a bid to strengthen healthcare services in the country.

"The Federal Government has allocated two percent of funds in the Consolidated Revenue Account to primary healthcare sector.

Accordingly, one percent of the funds has been approved for use by the National Health Insurance Scheme."