The Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) has threatened legal action against the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, over alleged abuse of office.
The association also gave the NHIS scribe up to March 30 to redress alleged disruption and distortion of payments in the scheme or risk legal action.
According to the counsel, Mr. Victor Abasiakan-Ekim, if the error and alleged illegality are not corrected on or before March 30, 2017, the HMOs will have no option than to seek redress before the court.
The ultimatum is contained in a petition served on NHIS by the counsel to HMCAN, Grays and Gold LLP, Legal practitioners and arbitrators.
A copy of the notice for legal action, which was received by the Office of the NHIS executive secretary on Feb. 27, was signed by Abasiakan-Ekim, and made available to news men on Tuesday in Abuja.
In the petition, the association alleged that Dr. Yusuf had distorted and disrupted the capitation and fee for service payable to members of the association in accordance with the provisions of Act 35 of 1999, establishing the scheme.
Citing section 20 of the law, Abasiakan-Ekim explained that the National Health Insurance Act empowers the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to collect contributions from eligible employees under the Act as well as payment of capitation fees for services rendered.
He noted that the Dr. Usman Yusuf solicited the assistance of the National Assembly to stop the payment and disrupt the payment of capitation fees and other fees payable to the HMOs.
He said the action of the executive secretary in tampering with the payment of capitation fees was illegal and ultra vires the powers as stipulated by Section 19(2)(d) of the NHIS Act.
