Department of Business, Administration
Federal University of Kashere,
Gombe State.
19th August 2024
The Head
National Health Insurance Scheme, (NHIS)
Gombe State.
Dear Sir,
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, ABUSE OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF TRUST, AND
SILENT ACT TO ELIMINATE NIGERIANS.
I am writing to vehemently express my profound indignation and deep-seated concern regarding the egregious issues surrounding the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) services, particularly the recent harrowing experiences my family and I have endured.
I enrolled in NHIS in 2015, but it was only on 8th August 2024 that I sought medical attention due to persistent body pain. After enduring a grueling nine-hour wait, I was given a prescription and callously instructed to purchase my medications externally. This was not an isolated incident; on 16th August 2024, my daughter Afnan and my wife Aishat faced a similar ordeal in the same
hospital Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, waiting four hours to be attended and asked to buy their prescribed medications outside. (See Appendices AI & AII, BI & BII and CI & CII).
I discovered that any medication costing N500 or more is routinely and systematically withheld, a
practice that appears to be a premeditated and widespread conspiracy. I spent a total of 13,900
naira for medications that should have been covered by my insurance, raising grave and serious
questions about the efficacy and integrity of NHIS.
Sir, my family and I are currently experiencing significant trauma and anxiety about our health,
fearing the consequences of any illness. The pervasive fear of sickness grips us, compounded by the knowledge that many families suffer in silence; especially those who cannot afford medical
expenses as at the time of their sickness which is the wisdom behind insuring our health. Sir, these vulnerable families may resort to self-medication or local remedies, which could lead to tragic outcomes, including preventable deaths. Sir on the same day I got this damaging treatment, a poor woman was in tears begging those at the NHIS Pharmacy Stores to please help her out as she sworn not to have any money on her to buy drugs which cost her over Ten Thousand Naira.
Unfortunately, she was turned off because they are helpless themselves.
The dangers of this situation extend far beyond mere inconvenience. The lack of access to
legitimate medications forces individuals to seek alternatives from unregulated sources, significantly increasing the risk of encountering counterfeit drugs. According to the World Health
Organisation (WHO), an estimated one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified (WHO, 2017), a statistic that highlights the severity of this
crisis. Nigeria is in the above-described basket.
Moreover, counterfeit drugs can lead to severe health complications. For instance, antibiotics that are either ineffective or improperly dosed can contribute to antibiotic resistance, a growing public
health threat that complicates the treatment of infections (Ventola, 2015). In some cases, counterfeit medications have been found to contain toxic substances or contaminants that pose
immediate health risks.
Reports indicate that children have died after consuming counterfeit cough syrups tainted with antifreeze (Friedman et al., 2016), and patients have suffered severe reactions from counterfeit
medications containing harmful ingredients.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that customers are often condemned to seek medications
outside of regulated environments without clear guidance on where to find legitimate products.
Since their concern is to avert such payments which customers have already paid for in advance. This is a double tragedy and cold-hearted treatment to customers by NHIS and HMOs that this country must nip in the bud.This lack of direction increases the likelihood of purchasing fake drugs, putting not only individual patients at risk but also jeopardizing public health. The potential for overdose from counterfeit drugs that contain dangerous substances, such as fentanyl, is a grave concern. Even a minuscule amount of fentanyl can be lethal (Centre for Disease and Control (CDC), 2021), further underscoring the life-threatening consequences of relying on unverified sources for medications.In conclusion, the current state of NHIS services not only affects our immediate health but also endangers countless others who may be forced into similar desperate situations.
The silent suffering of many families, coupled with the inherent dangers of counterfeit medications, poses a significant threat to public health and safety. It is imperative that we address these issues urgently to prevent further harm and ensure that all individuals have access to safe and effective healthcare.Prayers:I demand an immediate and unconditional refund of my expenses within two working days, along with fair and just compensation for my transportation costs, and a formal and sincere apology from both NHIS and my Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), Medicare Alliance formerly Doma Care. Additionally, I vehemently urge NHIS to ensure that all prescribed medications are provided without further burden or exploitation of the insured.Failure to address these grievances will compel me to escalate this matter through legal channels and a widespread public outcry. I also request that NHIS initiates awareness campaigns to inform other beneficiaries of their rights regarding medication reimbursement, in order to prevent further victimization of innocent citizens.Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical and pressing matter.
Sincerely,
Salihu Adam Jiddah
NHIS No.: 3090898
Hospital No.: 663978
Cc:The Honourable Minister for Health,
NLC-Gombe State,
ASUU-FUK,
CMD FTHG,
Servicom,
Civil Society Organisations,
Radio and TV Stations.Facebook,X (formerly Twitter), etc.
