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The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) on Tuesday held a strategic engagement with Medical Directors of General Hospitals across the state to accelerate implementation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order mandating Social Health Insurance for all Lagos residents. The meeting, held at Soujourner Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, focused on the pivotal role of public secondary health facilities in enforcing compliance and delivering universal health coverage.

Opening the session, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the engagement as a critical milestone in the state’s journey toward full implementation of mandatory social health insurance. She noted that the Executive Order signed on July 16, 2024, and reinforced by a Presidential directive in September 2025, places healthcare providers at the centre of translating policy into measurable impact for residents.

Zamba said the meeting went beyond routine service delivery discussions, stressing that Medical Directors, as leaders of public secondary healthcare institutions, carry significant responsibility for operationalising the policy. She explained that General Hospitals are expected to verify proof of enrolment, deliver services to enrollees, and facilitate on-the-spot registration for uninsured patients at the point of care.

She further outlined key operational expectations, including immediate stabilisation of patients in life-threatening emergencies before insurance verification, in line with the Executive Order. Zamba added that treatment provided on the day of enrolment would only become billable after plan activation, underscoring the need for strict adherence to approved guidelines.

The LASHMA boss disclosed that the Agency had introduced enrollee verification systems, provider-led enrolment processes and a structured emergency services framework, LASHMA-AID, scheduled for formal launch on Thursday, December 18, 2025. She said these initiatives were designed to support hospitals and ensure seamless enforcement of the mandate.

Zamba reaffirmed LASHMA’s commitment to continuous improvement of service delivery, noting that the engagement provided a platform to identify systemic challenges, agree on realistic solutions and strengthen collaboration. Drawing from the 2025 UHC Day theme, she said Lagos residents were “truly sick of paying out-of-pocket,” urging hospitals to help change the narrative through effective implementation of ILERA EKO.

In her remarks, Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission (HSC), Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, described the meeting as long overdue, given growing demand for the full implementation of the Social Health Insurance Scheme. She said the engagement offered an opportunity for frank discussions on challenges faced by hospitals and practical solutions to improve uptake.

Mabogunje recalled research findings showing that low per cent of children accessing care in some public facilities had health insurance coverage, leaving the vast majority to pay out-of-pocket. She stressed that health insurance provides assurance and financial protection for families, which lies at the heart of Universal Health Coverage.

She urged General Hospitals, as government-owned secondary facilities, to be at the forefront of making the scheme work, adding that their multi-specialty nature places them in a unique position to deliver comprehensive, insured care. Mabogunje also called on LASHMA to remain responsive to provider concerns, noting that collaboration was essential for success.

Coordinator, Regulations at LASHMA, Mr. Tosin Awosika, in a presentation, explained the legal and policy foundations of the Executive Order, noting that it aligns the Lagos State Health Scheme Law with the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022. He outlined provisions requiring compulsory enrolment, verification before service access, and special protections for emergency cases and vulnerable residents.

Awosika highlighted expectations for healthcare facilities, including establishment of functional ILERA EKO desks, 24-hour support for enrollees, on-site registration of uninsured patients and strict avoidance of derogatory remarks about the scheme. He said compliance by hospitals was critical to reducing out-of-pocket spending and improving public confidence.

Head, ILERA EKO Medical, LASHMA, Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe, addressed recurring service delivery challenges identified through enrollee feedback and monitoring. He called on Medical Directors to strengthen internal coordination, ensure proper interpretation of benefit packages and address staffing and workflow gaps. He outlined specific requests from LASHMA, including dedicated hospital communication channels and consistent senior-level participation in engagement meetings.

Closing the meeting, Medical Director of Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Dr. Olumide Sojinrin, described the engagement as one of the most productive interactions with LASHMA in recent times. He pledged the collective support of Medical Directors to the Health Service Commission and the health insurance programme.

Sojinrin emphasised that the “mandatory” nature of the scheme leaves no room for retreat, urging sustained collaboration, open communication and shared problem-solving. He said participants had openly addressed grey areas around access, benefits and enrolment, agreeing that successful implementation of the Executive Order and championing ILERA EKO is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders.

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