Lagos Begins Statewide Hospital Audits for Mandatory Health Insurance

The Lagos State Government has officially shifted its health insurance drive into high gear, launching an intensive, statewide “readiness assessment” of hospitals to ensure they can handle the upcoming mandatory enforcement of the ILERA EKO scheme.

The move follows an Executive Order making social health insurance compulsory for all residents, signaling an end to the era of out-of-pocket medical crises. Led by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), the audit began on Friday with a sweep of public General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres, as well as high-volume private facilities, to identify gaps in service and ensure the infrastructure is ready for a massive influx of new enrollees.

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Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, described the exercise as a critical baseline review that will serve as the foundation for stricter enforcement. A major focus of this audit is “seamless registration.”

Under the new directives, hospitals are no longer just places for treatment; they are now active enrollment hubs. When an uninsured patient walks into a facility, the hospital must be equipped to register them on the spot. Dr. Zamba emphasized that special attention is being directed toward the vulnerable, ensuring they receive the same high-standard care as premium-paying enrollees without financial discrimination.

To pass the compliance check, Lagos hospitals must now meet a rigorous set of standards. This includes appointing dedicated officers specifically for ILERA EKO support, deploying digital screening tools, and establishing clear systems for resolving patient complaints.

Facilities are also required to maintain visible signage and ensure that staff rosters are optimized to prevent any service interruptions for insurance holders.

“This is a vital step toward Universal Health Coverage,” Dr. Zamba stated, noting that the goal is to ensure every Lagosian can access 75 percent of common hospital services, the amount currently covered by the plan without facing financial hardship.

The medical community has largely embraced the push, with directors from General Hospitals in Agbowa and Imota, as well as private specialists in Ikorodu, praising Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the transformative policy.

Currently, LASHMA manages a network of 765 providers, ranging from Federal Medical Centers and LASUTH to private nursing homes.

To expand this net even further, the agency is actively negotiating with the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) to bring more private clinics under the scheme. As the state intensifies its enforcement, the message to residents remains clear: with comprehensive and affordable care now a legal mandate, the time to enroll is now.