..moves to curb abuse of Ilera Eko Scheme
..as enrollees hit 1.5 million
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has announced plans to implement policy changes to the Lagos State Health Scheme from August 1, 2026, aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the Social Health Insurance Programme and safeguarding vulnerable residents who genuinely cannot afford health insurance premiums or the Pay-Small-Small payment option.
The Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this on Thursday during a media parley with health journalists held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Speaking at the event, Zamba explained that the agency had observed a growing trend in which some residents enroll in the scheme only a few months before accessing specific benefit packages that would otherwise be too expensive to pay for out-of-pocket or through other health insurance plans.
According to her, many beneficiaries exit the scheme after receiving treatment and only return when they require another costly medical intervention.
“After enjoying ILERA EKO services, they leave the scheme and only return when they require another expensive medical intervention. This attitude is not healthy for the sustainability of the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS). These practices will be addressed through the forthcoming policy changes,” she said.
Zamba stressed that achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires the collective commitment of all stakeholders. She reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s determination to attain UHC and urged residents to play their part in supporting the initiative.
Highlighting the growth of the scheme since its inception, the Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mrs. Tayo Adetoro, revealed that LASHMA’s enrollee base had increased from 443,500 in 2020 to more than 1.5 million in 2026.
Adetoro noted that the growth had been strong and consistent, with women accounting for 54 per cent of enrollees and men making up the remaining 46 per cent.
Also speaking, the Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Executive Order Implementation, Dr. Nifesimi Akinnagbe, said LASHMA had conducted capacity-building training for health supervisors across the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to strengthen enforcement of the Executive Order on compulsory enrolment into the scheme.
“The session focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of the Executive Order, their role in community sensitisation, and strategies for promoting increased enrolment into the ILERA EKO Scheme at the grassroots level,” Akinnagbe said.
