Lagos Govt warns Hospitals over denial of drugs to insured Patients

The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to healthcare facilities, including the General Hospital in Badagry, following a surge in complaints that patients under the state’s health insurance scheme are being denied access to essential medications.

The warning was delivered by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) during a Sensitisation Campaign and Town Hall Meeting held at the Badagry Local Government Secretariat.

The engagement aimed to enlighten residents on the agency’s regulatory duties and mandate.

HEFAMAA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abiola Idowu, represented by Dr. Olorunfemi Olonire, Director of Research and Statistics, confirmed that the agency has received several reports of insured patients being told that prescribed drugs were unavailable immediately after doctors issued their prescriptions.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow The Lagos Voice on WhatsApp channel for latest updates

“When an insured patient visits a hospital and is informed at the pharmacy that drugs exceeding 5% or 10% of their prescription are unavailable, it undermines both the insurance scheme and patient safety,” Idowu stated.

She explained that the repeated complaints have been documented and will be formally escalated to the Lagos State Health Management Authority (LASHMA) for urgent corrective action.

QR Code Complaint System Introduced

To strengthen monitoring and improve accountability, Idowu announced the deployment of a QR code reporting system across all public health facilities in Lagos.

Patients denied medications covered by their insurance can now scan the displayed QR code to immediately submit a complaint. HEFAMAA will review each submission, document it, and forward it to the appropriate authorities to ensure a timely response.

Crackdown on Unlicensed Medical Practices

Idowu also issued a warning to residents about the dangers of receiving medical treatment from unlicensed individuals, including traditional healers and auxiliary nurses, who administer IV fluids or carry out procedures in private homes.

She said such unauthorised medical practices often lead to severe complications, with blame later redirected at accredited hospitals.

HEFAMAA, she added, will intensify surveillance to ensure patient safety and uphold medical standards across Lagos State.