By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS), Dr. Zuoboemi Agadah, has said Nigeria’s dream of achieving universal health coverage remains bleak due to its lack of control over pharmaceutical production and health-related technology.
Speaking during a media interaction with members of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, in Yenagoa, Dr. Agadah explained that without the ability to regulate drug pricing and manage inflation in the health sector, the country cannot sustainably provide quality healthcare for all.
“No country can achieve universal health coverage without controlling its pharmaceutical companies and healthcare technologies,” he stated. “Inflation is driving up the cost of drugs, but deductions from enrollees have remained the same since 2017. It’s simply not sustainable.”
His remarks come amid complaints by BHIS enrollees over drug shortages in hospitals across Bayelsa State. While patients continue to seek answers, the BHIS management has blamed the situation on rising inflation and soaring drug prices.
Dr. Agadah cited the example of a common antibiotic, Augmentin, which he said cost less than N1,000 in 2017 but now sells for between N25,000 and N30,000. “How can government-funded health insurance schemes cope when drug prices are increasing 30 times over and we’re still operating on deductions fixed almost a decade ago?” he asked.
He noted that hospitals are also beginning to reject current payment rates under the scheme, citing the rising cost of maintaining services. “Hospitals are saying what we pay them is no longer enough. But we can’t simply go back and ask contributors to pay more. It’s a tough spot,” he added.
To address the crisis, Dr. Agadah revealed that the BHIS is working on establishing a central drug distribution system that will source medications directly from major distributors or manufacturers. “This will lower drug prices and ensure quality control,” he said. “If a drug fails, we’ll know exactly who to hold accountable.”
Despite the challenges, the scheme has made significant strides in coverage. Since its inception in 2017, over 200,000 Bayelsans have enrolled. Of these, more than 100,000 are civil servants contributing 2% of their monthly salary, while those in the informal sector pay N2,000 monthly, amounting to N24,000 yearly.
“We don’t discriminate based on class or income,” Dr. Agadah emphasized. “Whether you’re a top-level executive or a roadside trader, once you’re in the BHIS, you receive equal treatment.”
Currently, the scheme has 203 accredited hospitals across the state – 97 general hospitals and 106 primary health centres. While the initiative was launched under former Governor Seriake Dickson to provide coverage for civil servants, it has since expanded to include informal sector workers.
However, with the rising cost of health delivery and a weak national framework to manage inflation and pharmaceutical regulation, BHIS warns that broader health equity in Nigeria will remain a mirage unless bold systemic reforms are implemented.
“Our challenge now is not just coverage but sustainability. We need more funding, better control of the drug supply chain, and national action on inflation. Only then can universal health coverage become a reality in Nigeria,” Dr. Agadah concluded.