The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has restated its commitment to fully enforce its one-hour authorisation code policy, a reform designed to reduce patient waiting times and improve access to healthcare services across Nigeria.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Keffi, Nasarawa State, NHIA Zonal Director, Dr. Chris Okoh, said the policy—introduced on April 1, 2025, under the NHIA Act 2022—requires Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to issue authorisation codes to healthcare providers within one hour of receiving a treatment request.
“Our goal is to ensure enrollees get quality service whenever they visit any facility. This is why we are introducing smarter, more responsive initiatives,” Okoh stated. He added that where HMOs fail to meet the one-hour deadline, hospitals must escalate the request to the NHIA state office so that patients are not left stranded.
Part of Broader Health Reforms
The authorisation policy is one of several reforms aimed at improving healthcare access. Others include free comprehensive Emergency Maternal and Neonatal Care for all emergencies, and a nationwide Fistula Programme offering treatment at designated hospitals for women experiencing post-delivery urinary leakage.
Dr. Mary Aliu, NHIA Coordinator in Nasarawa, said the new measures would ease bottlenecks in hospitals. “This policy will help reduce overcrowding and delays at health facilities,” she said, noting that enrollment in the state remains strong, particularly among informal sector workers.
She also emphasised that forums like this are crucial to achieving Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) target by 2030.
HMOs Back the Initiative
Representatives of Health Maintenance Organisations pledged their support for the policy. Mr. Cosmas Michael of Ultimate HMO said his firm had developed multiple request channels—including email, WhatsApp, portals, and SMS—to speed up response times.
“Our target is to respond within 10 to 15 minutes. If delayed, the case is escalated to ensure it doesn’t exceed the one-hour limit,” he explained.
Stakeholder Engagement
The forum brought together key players in the healthcare system, including HMOs, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA), the Hospital Management Board, and healthcare providers.
The NHIA maintained that stronger collaboration with stakeholders will be critical to sustaining reforms and ensuring Nigerians have quicker, more reliable access to care.
