An Overview of the Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP), in Nigeria

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates health insurance as a key strategy for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) launched the Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) in 2020 as a strategic step to expand coverage beyond the formal sector, replacing the previous Voluntary Contributors Programme (VCSHIP).

This paper utilized a narrative review approach to synthesize relevant literature, policy documents, and stakeholder reports to explore the structure, objectives, benefits and implementation challenges of GIFSHIP within the broader Nigerian health insurance ecosystem.

GIFSHIP is a voluntary health insurance programme that provides a wide-range of healthcare services, ranging from outpatient services, inpatient care, specialist consultations, maternity care, preventive services and other essential health services to self-employed individuals, retirees, and organized groups through voluntary enrollment. However, despite its inclusive framework, the implementation and uptake has been hindered by several challenges: low public awareness, affordability concerns, uneven geographic distribution of healthcare facilities, unsatisfactory quality of care, lack of trust in government programmes, and weak data systems.

GIFSHIP is a promising approach with a great potential to scale up health insurance coverage, improve healthcare access, reduce financial barriers and support the drive towards UHC in Nigeria. However, its effectiveness and long-term impact depend on addressing key systemic and operational challenges. The recommendations include intensifying public education, offering government subsidies, enforcing quality assurance mechanisms, improving service quality, expanding services in underserved areas, and strengthening integrated data systems for monitoring and evaluation.