The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), on Thursday, engaged Civil Society Organisations under the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP) on the implementation of the Executive Order on compulsory enrolment into the State Social Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko, in Ikeja.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the Executive Order on mandatory social health insurance enrollment as a major milestone in Lagos State’s journey toward achieving Universal Health Coverage, noting that government remains committed to protecting residents from catastrophic health spending.
Zamba said the State Government had demonstrated strong commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive healthcare system through the domestication of the National Health Insurance Act.
She explained that the engagement with civil society groups was designed to educate stakeholders on the significance of mandatory social health insurance enrollment, improve awareness and encourage residents to understand the benefits attached to participating in the Ilera Eko Scheme.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that enforcement activities had commenced earlier in the year following the inauguration of an enforcement team, adding that the implementation strategy had been carefully structured into three phases to ensure broad-based coverage and compliance across the state.
Describing Civil Society Organisations as critical partners, she said their platforms remain important for advocacy, awareness creation and community mobilisation, stressing that health insurance should not be viewed merely as a government programme but as a social protection mechanism for safeguarding residents’ health and financial wellbeing.
She added that particular attention was also being placed on vulnerable groups, youth populations, persons living with disabilities and survivors of domestic and sexual violence as government pursues an inclusive and people-centred healthcare system.
In his remarks, Chairman of Lagos Civil Society Partnership, Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, reflected on the progress made within Lagos health systems over the years, attributing many of the gains to leadership continuity, institutional commitment and the establishment of structured service standards.
Adebusoye stressed the need for citizens to utilise official complaint and feedback channels rather than expressing concerns informally, noting that structured reporting mechanisms remained important for accountability and service improvement within healthcare institutions.
He also advocated for stronger digital feedback systems and simplified administrative processes, adding that greater public awareness on the benefits of health insurance was necessary as many people only recognise its importance during emergencies when out-of-pocket expenses become overwhelming.
Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at LASHMA, Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro, during a presentation on Ilera Eko, disclosed that Lagos residents spent nearly ₦163 billion on healthcare expenses in 2021, underscoring the urgent need for financial risk protection mechanisms.
She explained that the Lagos State Health Scheme Law enacted in 2015 established LASHMA to reduce healthcare-related financial burdens while ensuring residents can access quality healthcare services without being pushed into financial distress.
Also presenting on Ilera Eko operations, Head of Medical Operations at LASHMA, Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe, explained that healthcare access under the scheme follows a structured process involving enrollee verification, treatment authorization and claims review procedures aimed at maintaining quality care and system sustainability.
Fadipe stated that the agency operates a technology-driven authorization process with response timelines averaging about 45 minutes, adding that the system was designed to prevent treatment errors, inappropriate claims and possible abuse of the health insurance system.
On customer experience and complaint management, Head of Client Services, Mr. Lanre Green, highlighted residents’ rights and responsibilities under the scheme, noting that feedback mechanisms including complaints, recommendations and commendations remained critical tools for improving healthcare service delivery and accountability.
