Is Nigeria’s HMO System Really Working?

Following a single tweet on X, a Nigerian doctor(@34.59.20)calls for the abolition of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) saying, “I give the federal government 24 hours to ban this thing called HMO in Nigeria”. This struck a nerve and began a lot of conversations many Nigerians have wanted to have for years. Some individuals and other medical professionals also supported his viewpoint. A nurse even went as far as sharing a skit depicting her bias against patients with HMO. This video further intensified the discussion. The comments under the post were filled with stories of delayed approvals, denied treatments, hospitals rejecting HMO patients and endless mistreatment. As thousands share their own frustration experienced, having read it, I believe their anger expressed is indeed valid.

This conversation in my opinion, has exposed deep flaws in Nigeria’s healthcare financing system but calling for HMOs to be scrapped entirely misses the bigger picture. According to Leadway Health, only 21.7 million Nigerians have a health insurance plan which makes up just 12% of the country’s entire population. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of out-of-pocket healthcare spending in Africa. For millions of families in Nigeria, a medical emergency can wipe out years of savings or force them into debt. That is exactly why health insurance exists and more awareness and information should be made available about it in Nigeria.

That is not to say HMOs are beyond criticism. Hospitals deserve prompt reimbursements, doctors deserve systems that prioritize patient care over endless processes and patients deserve transparency about what their plans actually cover. The stories shared online reveal a system that needs urgent reform, stronger regulation and greater accountability. But these are failures of implementation not proof that health insurance itself is unnecessary. Rather than asking whether Nigeria needs HMOs, we should be asking what kind of HMOs Nigerians deserve.

Is Nigeria’s HMO System Really Working?

I believe beyond fixing the existing system, the government must also make health insurance more accessible to the average Nigerian. Many private HMO plans provide varying levels of coverage. However, even the more affordable plans can be difficult for low and middle income earners especially when considering the increasing costs of essentials like food, housing, transportation and other necessities.

That singular tweet on X has started an important conversation and it should not end with hashtags alone. It should push the government, regulators, HMOs, hospitals and healthcare providers to build a system people can actually trust. Healthcare should not be a privilege for those who can afford it. However, better healthcare does not begin by eliminating health insurance; it begins by making it work.

Share your thoughts on this conversation on our X handle-@BoomRadioNG.

Soliat Awobajo

Written by Boom RadioNG