Ultimate Health Management Services (Ultimate Health HMO) has launched the U-Health Gifship Social Health Insurance Programme, a new initiative aimed at providing affordable healthcare access to millions of Nigerians operating within the informal sector.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday in Lagos, the Managing Director of Ultimate Health HMO, Dr. Lekan Ewenla, stated that the scheme is targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as other informal sector workers who typically have limited access to structured health insurance. He noted that the initiative is designed to expand healthcare coverage to more than 160 million Nigerians, while improving access to quality, timely, and affordable healthcare services.
Ewenla explained that the U-Health Gifship programme operates under the benefit package of the Federal Government-approved National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) 2005. He observed that, although the NHIS was originally designed for civil servants and formal sector employees, the Gifship product has been specifically developed to address the needs of the more than 85 per cent of Nigerians working in the informal economy.
According to Ewenla, individuals, groups, and families can enrol in the scheme for an annual premium of ₦38,780, with coverage valid for one year.
“The essence of this product is to ensure that the over 160 million out of the 200 million Nigerians operating in the informal sector have access to the quality, timely, and affordable healthcare services they need,” Ewenla said.
He added that Ultimate Health HMO is the first health maintenance organisation to take the initiative of designing a dedicated health insurance package for the informal sector.
“We have been driving this business over the years with numerous innovations and strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Ewenla further disclosed that enrollees would be issued both digital and physical identification cards, enabling seamless access to healthcare services at any time.
Also speaking at the event, the Assistant General Manager of Ultimate Health HMO, Dr. Madu Chima, outlined the breadth of the Gifship benefit package. He said it includes medical consultations, medications, cancer care, diagnostic and investigative services, management of chronic conditions, inpatient care, accident and emergency services, ultrasound scans, paediatric care, and dental services.
Chima emphasised that the overarching goal of the U-Health Gifship programme is to deepen penetration within the informal sector and ensure equitable access to healthcare services for all Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Femi Adeoye, described the initiative as “timely and necessary.”
Represented by the NHIA State Coordinator, Dr. Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, Adeoye encouraged Nigerians to take advantage of the programme to improve their health outcomes.
“The benefit package is robust. Let every Nigerian have health insurance. Health poverty in Nigeria must decline,” Adeoye said.
He added that the NHIA would play an active role in monitoring hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Representatives of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, the Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce, and NewGate Hospital also delivered goodwill messages at the event.
