LSTMB, LASHMA Partner to Drive Compulsory Health Insurance Awareness

The Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) has hosted officials of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) for a sensitisation programme on the compulsory social health insurance scheme, in line with the Governor’s Executive Order mandating universal health coverage for Lagos residents.

Held at the LSTMB Office, the programme aimed to educate traditional medicine practitioners and stakeholders on the compulsory nature of the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme, which requires all residents, employers, and workers in Lagos State to enrol.

Welcoming the LASHMA team, the Acting Registrar of LSTMB, Mr. Hakeem Bello, expressed the Board’s readiness to support the initiative. He noted that with over 10,000 registered practitioners across the state, LSTMB is well-positioned to facilitate mass enrolment and compliance among traditional medicine providers.

LASHMA’s Regulation Coordinator, Mr. Tosin Awosika, explained that the programme aligns with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory nationwide. He emphasised that the scheme is designed to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending and guarantee access to quality care regardless of income level.

The engagement concluded with assurances of collaboration between LASHMA and LSTMB to integrate traditional medicine practitioners into the health insurance framework, thereby strengthening healthcare delivery and promoting universal health coverage across Lagos State.