A statement posted by the Ministry of Defence on its website on Thursday had said the new HMO would be known as the Federal Civil Service Health Maintenance Limited. The statement quoted the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Kana, as having has that President Bola Tinubu had approved the creation of a new HMO to be called FCSHML. However, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate faulted the announcement made by the Ministry of Defence on the approval of the creation of a new HMO for civil servants. In a post on his X handle, Pate said: “I am very surprised to see this announcement on a matter that is far from being concluded. President Bola Tinubu’s administration is focused in the health sector on expanding financial protection for all Nigerians, not only a few privileged ones. “The forces that held back progress on health insurance (only about 7 per cent population or 16 million of Nigerians covered in more than 20 years) waking up to undermine efforts to reform the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to accelerate coverage for all Nigerians. The minister further explained that the reform being carried in the health insurance scheme will expand coverage for civil servants, including through a properly established and appropriately regulated Federal Civil Service HMO coverage for retirees. He said that the facility will at the same time expand protection for millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, not only for the federal civil servants. Source: Arise News