The Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency has announced a notable expansion in health insurance coverage, revealing that enrolment rose from 497,262 lives in 2023 to 933,014 by 2025, marking an increase of 87.6 percent over two years. 

During a press conference held on Friday in Kano to celebrate the 2025 Universal Health Coverage Day, Dr. Rahila Muktar, the Executive Secretary of KSCHMA, shared this accomplishment. She emphasized that this progress showcases the state government's steadfast dedication to providing affordable and high-quality healthcare services to its citizens through the Kano State Contributory Health Scheme.

Muktar remarked that the 2025 UHC theme, ‘Unaffordable Health Costs: We Are Sick of It!’, closely aligns with the agency’s main goal of safeguarding families from the financial burdens of healthcare. She expressed her satisfaction with the achievements, stating, “I come before you not only to honor this day, but to offer a strong account of the progress, hope, and concrete results attained under the enlightened leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf and the direction of the Health Commissioner, Dr. Abubakar Labaran.”

She clarified that KSCHMA was founded by Law No. 3 of 2016 to develop a sustainable method for healthcare financing. This method depends on aggregated contributions, donations, and taxes to address the healthcare needs of residents, as specified by the benefit package of the scheme.

The Executive Secretary explained that the primary goals of the scheme are to ensure access to affordable, quality healthcare, foster equity, manage healthcare costs, maintain service quality, and enhance the efficiency of healthcare service delivery. She highlighted that since taking office in June 2023, the agency has focused on aggressive enrolment growth and financial protection for residents, aligning with the state’s broader social welfare priorities.

Dr. Muktar reiterated the agency’s mission, stating, “Our mandate has been clear: to increase access to quality healthcare and establish healthcare as a right, not a privilege. Universal Health Coverage is the overarching goal for global health advancement, with inclusion at its core.”

Breaking down the enrolment statistics, Muktar disclosed that the state-funded Vulnerable Group Programme saw an astounding 935 percent increase, climbing from 4,903 to 50,745 beneficiaries, supported additionally by the Kano State Health Trust Fund. She underscored the positive implications of this expansion, asserting, “This ensures that pregnant women, children under five, individuals living with disabilities, and those with chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and HIV can receive care with dignity.”

In addition, she reported a notable increase in enrolment under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which rose by 215 percent from 108,664 to 342,515, a development that greatly enhances access to primary healthcare services. Within the formal sector, a 40 percent increase brought total enrolment to 537,914 individuals, while the informal sector witnessed a remarkable growth of over 1,143 percent, climbing from 148 to 1,840 enrollees.

Muktar provided an in-depth breakdown of the expanded coverage, indicating it currently supports 145,723 pregnant women, 124,802 children under five, 46,512 individuals with disabilities, 31,003 individuals with chronic medical conditions, 29,473 people living with HIV, 3,609 inmates in correctional facilities, and 8,053 others with conditions such as fistula, hypertension, and spinal cord injuries.

Moreover, she mentioned that KSCHMA has actively enhanced collaborations with crucial stakeholders, including the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Hospitals Management Board, Private Institutions Management Agency, DMCSA, Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Kano Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and various development partners.