Key figures in Nigeria's health sector have issued a powerful plea for the immediate and comprehensive reform of the country's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This urgent call to action was made against the poignant backdrop of a one-day free medical outreach in Port Harcourt on Christmas Eve, which starkly highlighted how the prevailing 'cash-and-carry' system in hospitals is leading to preventable deaths.
A Christmas Intervention Highlights Systemic Failure
The outreach, held at the Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, was organized by real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist, My-ACE China, in collaboration with Meridian Hospitals Group and the Pilgrims Health Foundation (Africa). Operating under the theme 'Bringing Healthcare to the Community', the event was a direct response to the failures of the formal health financing system.
Stakeholders at the event expressed deep frustration, noting that the health insurance model, which functions effectively in nations with fewer resources, has catastrophically failed in Nigeria. They described scenes where critically ill patients are refused treatment due to an inability to pay upfront deposits as inhumane and symptomatic of a broken system.
Personal Witness to Tragedy Drives Philanthropy
My-ACE China, who now runs Housing and Construction Mayor Ltd, shared a personal motivation for the initiative. His previous career as a laboratory scientist at Meridian Hospitals nearly two decades ago exposed him firsthand to the brutal realities of cash-and-carry healthcare. "I could not cope with watching human beings struggle for life because they had no money to pay," he revealed, recounting how he witnessed patients die due to lack of immediate funds.
This experience, he said, influenced his decision to leave salaried employment to pursue financial freedom, ultimately enabling him to return and support free medical services for the indigent. The outreach aimed to serve over 400 beneficiaries with a wide range of services including:
- General medical consultations and preventive health talks
- Eye examinations, free eyeglasses, and bookings for surgeries
- Blood pressure, blood sugar checks, and malaria testing/treatment
- Free prescriptions focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition
Journalists observed large crowds arriving as early as 7:00 a.m., underscoring the massive need. Beneficiaries like 63-year-old Mr. Jerry Onwuso, who received eye care, glasses, and medication, pleaded for the programme's sustainability. "I paid nothing for all these services. This programme should be sustained," he stated.
Rising Costs and Punitive Tariffs Cripple Hospitals
Adding his voice to the call for reform, Dr. Iyke Odo, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals and Pilgrims Health Foundation (Africa), appealed to federal and state governments to make health insurance functional and accessible. "It is heartbreaking to see critically ill patients abandoned because they cannot raise money," Dr. Odo lamented.
He further detailed the immense operational challenges facing healthcare providers, citing exorbitant and punitive electricity tariffs as a major threat. He disclosed that Meridian Hospitals' monthly electricity bill had skyrocketed from about N500,000 to over N12 million. "Healthcare facilities are being charged like oil companies. In many countries, hospitals enjoy concessional tariffs so they can offer affordable services," he argued.
The emotional impact of the outreach extended beyond the event day. My-ACE China later hosted a reunion at Meridian Hospitals' headquarters, distributing cash gifts and Christmas palliatives to former colleagues. Dr. Odo praised China's consistent generosity and humane spirit, while Mrs. Francesca Nzeako, Head of Nursing, expressed being overwhelmed by his transformative philanthropic gesture.
Chioma Faith Nnadi, Country Manager for Pilgrims Health Foundation, confirmed the outreach's broader impact, noting that about 150 of the projected 400 participants were slated to receive free eyeglasses, alongside integrated scholarship initiatives.
The consensus from Port Harcourt is clear: without an urgent and effective overhaul of Nigeria's health insurance scheme, the deadly cash-and-carry model will continue to claim lives that could otherwise be saved.
