By Justina Auta
The Federal Government and Healthnomics HMO Plc have emphasised leveraging digital technology to transform healthcare financing and accelerate Universal Health Coverage nationwide through innovation, stronger governance and improved health insurance service delivery mechanisms.
The call was made at the maiden Annual General Meeting of Healthnomics HMO Plc in Abuja, where stakeholders identified technology, innovation and corporate governance as critical drivers of efficient healthcare financing nationwide.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Healthnomics HMO, Dr Obioma Obikeze, said healthcare financing would increasingly depend on intelligent technology, data-driven decisions and seamless digital experiences beyond provider access nationwide.
According to Obikeze, the company is positioning itself among Nigeria’s leading digitally enabled healthcare financing institutions through sustained investments in digital infrastructure that strengthen efficiency, transparency, innovation and service delivery.
“At Healthnomics, we believe the future of healthcare financing will not be driven solely by access to healthcare providers, but by intelligent technology, data-driven decision-making and seamless digital experiences,” he said.
“Our aspiration is to build not just another HMO, but one of Nigeria’s most digitally enabled healthcare financing institutions,” Obikeze said while outlining the organisation’s long-term strategic direction and growth ambitions.
He said the company adopted a digital-first operating model from inception, investing in scalable cloud-based platforms, integrated digital workflows and technology-enabled governance systems to strengthen capacity and organisational resilience nationwide.
Obikeze said the strategy would improve efficiency, strengthen transparency, accelerate claims processing, enhance fraud detection and deliver superior customer experience while supporting sustainable growth, accountability and stakeholder confidence nationwide.
He said Healthnomics’ digital ecosystem, powered by its Medicloud Enterprise Platform, automated claims management system, cloud-based customer relationship management solution and mobile application, supports enrolment, claims administration and executive decision-making.
Obikeze added that the investments would provide shareholders with sustainable competitive advantage through faster product innovation, stronger cybersecurity, improved data governance and enhanced business intelligence for future market growth.
“As healthcare financing increasingly becomes data-driven globally, Healthnomics HMO is intentionally positioning itself to compete not only within Nigeria but alongside emerging digital health insurers across Africa,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the Board, Prof. Kenneth Ozoilo, said Healthnomics was established to bridge longstanding gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare financing system while supporting the Federal Government’s health coverage agenda.
“It was conceived to bridge the gap that has existed in Nigeria’s healthcare financing,” Ozoilo said.
He said that deficiencies within the industry inspired efforts to establish a more accountable organisation.
“We looked at it and we saw that, in as much as government has set a target to provide for universal health coverage for all Nigerians, there were several shortcomings.
“We felt that rather than fold our hands and lament, we could take action with the singular objective of making sure that all those shortcomings are corrected.
“Specifically, the obligations that HMOs owe to the patients, the enrollees, the obligations they owe to the healthcare provider facilities and making sure regulatory compliance is done,” he said.
Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, described licensed HMOs as critical partners in expanding healthcare access and advancing implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority Act.
Represented by Mr Ohu Michael of the NHIA Risk and Regulation Department, Ohiri urged HMOs to uphold corporate governance, financial sustainability, quality assurance and prompt claims settlement nationwide.
“The Authority expects HMOs to embrace innovative models of care, efficient utilisation review and responsible pre-authorisation processes that ensure value for every naira spent.
“We also encourage operators to leverage technology to expand healthcare access, particularly among Nigerians in the informal sector,” Ohiri added while emphasising inclusive health insurance coverage nationwide.
Also speaking, Corporate Affairs Commission representative, Mr Ezennabike Arinze, urged Healthnomics to strengthen corporate governance processes to improve transparency, accountability and regulatory compliance as operations continued expanding nationwide.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AGM brought together shareholders, regulators and stakeholders to review Healthnomics’ performance and outline strategies for leveraging digital innovation to strengthen healthcare financing and insurance delivery nationwide.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru