Hallmark Health Services Limited (Hallmark HMO), a subsidiary of Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc, hosted its 5th Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Lagos. The event centered on the critical need to ensure quality healthcare is accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all Nigerians.
The forum gathered healthcare leaders, regulators, insurers, investors, and medical practitioners to deliberate on practical solutions for the escalating challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare sector. The theme, “Collaborating for Sustainable Healthcare Systems: Financial Stability, Intelligent Systems, Regulatory Excellence and Enhanced Stakeholder Experience,” underscored the consensus that Nigeria's healthcare future hinges on robust collaboration, innovative financing, improved regulation, and a people-centric approach.
Mr. Eddie Efekoha, Chairman of Hallmark Health Services Limited, emphasized that healthcare is fundamentally about people and their experiences. He stated, “Every Nigerian has a healthcare story. It could be the relief of receiving timely treatment, the anxiety of finding quality care, or the challenge of navigating healthcare costs. Behind every statistic are human beings, families, businesses and communities.”
Efekoha highlighted that Nigeria’s healthcare sector is at a pivotal moment, facing pressures from rising inflation, increasing demand for quality care, rapid technological shifts, and the emigration of skilled professionals. He stressed that no single entity can resolve these issues alone, making cross-sector collaboration essential for building a resilient healthcare system.
In his keynote address, Mr. Olumide Ajomale, Independent Non-Executive Director at Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Limited, described the daily struggles of Nigerians seeking healthcare. “Every day in Nigeria, somebody delays a hospital visit because they cannot predict the financial consequences. Every day a provider struggles with rising costs. Every day an HMO balances competing expectations. Every day a regulator must protect the current system while preparing for the future,” he remarked.
Ajomale revealed that an unsustainable approximately 71 percent of healthcare spending in Nigeria is directly funded by households through out-of-pocket payments. He argued that healthcare systems should be evaluated not just by policies, infrastructure, or technology, but by the experiences of the people they serve.
He further noted that financial stability, intelligent systems, regulatory excellence, and enhanced stakeholder experience are crucial pillars for a sustainable healthcare system, with trust serving as the foundational element for lasting reforms. “Without trust, there will be no collaboration. Without trust, there will be no compliance. Without trust, there will be no customer loyalty. Without trust, there will be no sustainable growth,” he added.
Mrs. Oladotun Adeogun, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hallmark HMO, identified collaboration as the most effective strategy for addressing the structural challenges in Nigeria’s health insurance ecosystem. She explained that Health Maintenance Organisations are under increasing pressure from rising treatment costs and fixed premiums, making stakeholder engagement vital.
“When patients come into a hospital, they should not be treated like numbers. Healthcare must remain human,” Adeogun stated. She urged healthcare providers to adopt technology, bolster preventive care, and enhance patient experiences, while advocating for broader health insurance coverage to reduce reliance on out-of-pocket expenditures.
The forum concluded with a collective commitment from stakeholders to advance reforms that foster trust, innovation, sustainable financing, and improved healthcare access, ensuring that quality healthcare is a right for all Nigerians.
About Hallmark HMO:
Hallmark Health Services Limited (Hallmark HMO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc. Incorporated on November 9, 2017, it received its license from the National Health Insurance Authority (formerly National Health Insurance Scheme) on September 1, 2021. Hallmark HMO is rapidly expanding its client base through high-quality service delivery.
For more information, visit www.hallmarkhmo.com.
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Ajibola Liyide
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