The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to adjust the policy framework guiding its health insurance scheme in a move aimed at boosting enrolment, protecting the vulnerable, and strengthening the sustainability of the state’s social health insurance programme.
The new policy changes, according to the government, which is expected to take effect from August 1, are designed to address growing concerns over residents who only enroll in the scheme shortly before accessing costly health services, then exit once their immediate medical needs are met.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this on Thursday during the agency’s second quarter media parley held at its headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
According to her, such practices threaten the long-term viability of the Lagos State Health Scheme and undermine the principle of shared responsibility on which social health insurance is built.
“We have observed that some residents only enroll in the Scheme a few months before they need to access a particular benefit package, which would otherwise be very expensive if paid for out-of-pocket or through other health insurance plans,” she said.
“After enjoying ILERA EKO services, they leave the Scheme and only return when they require another costly medical intervention. This attitude is not healthy for the sustainability of the Lagos State Health Scheme.”
Zamba stressed that the forthcoming adjustments would preserve access for indigent residents who genuinely cannot afford premiums or the Pay-Small-Small option, while ensuring that the scheme remains fair and sustainable for all.
She said the Lagos State Government remained committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage and would continue to expand access to quality healthcare through its ILERA EKO initiative.
The LASHMA boss also presented updates on the agency’s scorecard since inception, saying the data showed the impact of the programme in delivering affordable and qualitative healthcare to residents of the state.
She recalled the launch of the LASHMA Assistance in Distress (LASHMA-AID) initiative in December 2025 and the commencement of the Emergency Service Programme in March 2026, noting that the intervention had already saved 18 lives, particularly among vulnerable residents.
Zamba also highlighted the agency’s enforcement drive, saying mandatory social health insurance had commenced across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state government from 1 February 2026, following the inauguration of the enforcement team by the Head of Service.
She said the next phase would focus more intensively on the informal sector through grassroots sensitisation and pre-enforcement activities.
The agency also announced the expansion of its rural health outreach under the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA), particularly in underserved and riverine communities where primary health centres are unavailable. Zamba said the mobile health van initiative was designed to bring healthcare closer to residents in remote areas.
She further disclosed that 72 health writers, their spouses and dependents had been enrolled free of charge for one year as part of the agency’s engagement with the media, describing journalists as key partners in public health education.
Zamba urged residents to make use of the ILERA EKO Telemedicine Service, which allows enrollees to consult medical practitioners remotely in Yoruba, English, Igbo, Hausa and Pidgin through audio or video calls at no extra cost.
She said the service also provides prescriptions, test recommendations, pharmacy directions, follow-up consultations and health tips.
Zamba called on journalists to continue sensitising Lagos residents about the importance of health insurance, saying ILERA EKO was now mandatory for all residents and remained essential to reducing catastrophic healthcare spending.
“Universal Health Coverage is a journey that requires the collective responsibility of all stakeholders. The Lagos State Government remains determined to achieve UHC.”