LASHMA retains top state health insurance award

The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has once again been recognized for its contributions to health insurance delivery in Nigeria, securing the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) for State Government Health Insurance of the Year 2026. This marks the third time the agency has received this prestigious accolade.

The award ceremony, held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, celebrated LASHMA's significant efforts in broadening access to affordable and high-quality healthcare services throughout Lagos State. The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, accepted the award from Dr. Femi Olugbile, former Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health. Olugbile congratulated LASHMA on its win among five nominees and encouraged the agency to persist in developing innovations to support the Lagos State Government's objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage.

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With this award, more work is required from the agency to ensure that Lagos residents have unhindered access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare services.

"With this award, more work is required from the agency to ensure that Lagos residents have unhindered access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare services," Olugbile stated. Dr. Anthony Omolola, Chairman of the NHEA Advisory Board, explained that the award, established in 2014, aims to acknowledge excellence, leadership, and outstanding performance within Nigeria's healthcare sector. He noted that recipients are chosen through a rigorous process involving research, public voting, and independent evaluation by the advisory board, ensuring credibility for every nomination.

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Every nomination is based on credibility.

Omolola also commented on the 2026 NHEA theme, "Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Digital Transformation in Healthcare," observing that the sector has moved beyond traditional methods. He highlighted technology, partnerships, artificial intelligence, local production, and sustainable financing as key drivers of modern healthcare. "Healthcare is not the way it used to be several years ago. It is now driven by ideas, partnership, artificial intelligence, local production of devices and sustainable financing," he said.

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Zamba expressed gratitude to the organizers for acknowledging LASHMA's role in the health insurance sector. She also thanked stakeholders, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, members of the state House of Assembly, local government chairmen, partners, and Lagos residents who voted for the agency. Zamba pledged LASHMA's continued commitment to expanding healthcare access for all residents, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

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Healthcare is not the way it used to be several years ago. It is now driven by ideas, partnership, artificial intelligence, local production of devices and sustainable financing.