Lagos State Government on Thursday intensified efforts toward achieving universal health coverage as the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) 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, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja.

The strategic engagement brought together health sector stakeholders, civil society actors, policy advocates and health insurance experts to deepen awareness on mandatory health insurance enrollment and strengthen support for the implementation of the Executive Order aimed at ensuring that all Lagos residents have access to affordable and quality healthcare services without financial hardship.

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, making Lagos the first state to commence implementation processes toward expanding healthcare coverage for residents.

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.

According to her, the first phase focused on Ministries, Departments and Agencies through compliance assessments, including enrollment of contract staff and public servants, provision of enrollment desks in strategic locations and integration of compliance requirements into service access procedures.

Zamba further stated that the second phase targeted the informal sector, with strategic engagements held with Local Government Chairmen and grassroots sensitisation campaigns across councils and Local Council Development Areas to mobilise artisans, market associations, community leaders and influencers.

She noted that the third phase was directed at the organised private sector and employers to ensure wider employee enrollment and stronger private sector participation in healthcare financing, while discussions with Health Maintenance Organisations were ongoing to ensure seamless implementation.

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.

Chairman of Lagos Civil Society Partnership, Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, in his remarks, reflected on the progress made within Lagos health systems over the years and attributed 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.

The engagement ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations and residents, as stakeholders agreed that increased awareness, sustained enrollment and collective ownership would be essential to ensuring that no Lagos resident is left behind in accessing healthcare services.

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