Sanwo-Olu orders enforcement of mandatory health insurance in Lagos, sets December deadline

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday flagged off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance in the state.

Sanwo-Olu also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations, complementing the existing Ilera Eko scheme for vulnerable residents and the informal sector.

The governor gave every resident until December 31, 2026, to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027. He also inaugurated two boards to support the initiative.

Speaking at an event attended by government officials, health practitioners, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, Sanwo-Olu said the ultimate objective of the Executive Order went beyond enforcement, noting that it was to ensure that every Lagos resident was covered by health insurance and could access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.

He said every resident, employer and worker in Lagos was required to have social health insurance, stating that the Executive Order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and government.

Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that while Ilera Eko catered to vulnerable residents and the informal sector, the new health insurance plans would address the needs of salaried workers and employers, ensuring that everyone had access to an appropriate healthcare package.

Sanwo-Olu stressed that employers must consider workers’ healthcare a necessary cost of doing business, just as they made provisions for pensions and other employment-related obligations.

The governor also emphasised that no healthcare provider should turn away residents requiring emergency medical attention because of financial constraints, stressing that patients must first be stabilised before issues relating to payment or insurance coverage were addressed.

He disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new plans, describing the arrangement as a partnership between government and private operators to expand coverage and strengthen healthcare delivery.

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Sanwo-Olu also urged medical professionals considering emigration to reconsider, arguing that improved healthcare financing could strengthen the sector and make it more sustainable for practitioners.

Also speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that advancements in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotic science and modern diagnostic equipment, had significantly increased the cost of healthcare delivery.

Abayomi also emphasised the importance of a strong and inclusive health insurance system to protect residents from rising medical expenses while ensuring access to quality healthcare services.

Abayomi described the launch as a major shift in how healthcare would be financed in Lagos, arguing that the current dependence on out-of-pocket payments placed excessive financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities.