Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unveiled a new phase of healthcare reforms aimed at achieving universal health coverage through mandatory health insurance, digital healthcare, improved infrastructure and stronger health institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the second Eko Health Convention in Lagos, the Governor said his administration has moved beyond delivering healthcare projects to building sustainable institutions that will guarantee quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for future generations.
He said the convention’s theme, “Building a Healthier Lagos: Connecting Access with Excellence,” reflects the State’s commitment to ensuring that every resident has access to quality healthcare regardless of income or location.
Sanwo-Olu described mandatory health insurance as the cornerstone of the State’s universal health coverage agenda, revealing that more than 1.5 million residents are now enrolled in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Ilera Eko EasyPay platform, the Equity Fund for vulnerable residents and the LASHMA Assistance in Distress programme, which ensures emergency patients receive treatment before payment issues are resolved.
The Governor also outlined major investments in healthcare infrastructure, including the completion of the Massey Children’s Specialist Hospital, the Lagos Mental Health Institute and other General Hospitals, alongside the expansion of primary healthcare centres and mobile medical outreach services.
On digital transformation, Sanwo-Olu said the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) will integrate electronic medical records across public health facilities, improve disease surveillance and strengthen emergency response through data-driven healthcare delivery.
He also announced plans to establish a dedicated Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences to address manpower shortages and produce more healthcare professionals.
He called for stronger collaboration with the private sector and development partners, stressing that the government alone cannot meet the healthcare needs of a rapidly growing megacity.
Deputy Governor, Doctor Obafemi Hamzat, said Lagos has become better positioned after seven years of sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, governance and workforce development.
He noted that decentralising healthcare administration through six Health Districts has improved accountability, service delivery and access to care.
Doctor Hamzat praised healthcare workers for their commitment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, assuring them of continued government support through improved welfare and better working conditions.
Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Doctor Kemi Ogunyemi, said Lagos has shifted from policy commitments to implementation, with significant progress in primary healthcare, emergency preparedness, digital health, workforce development and medical innovation.
Abayomi described the convention as a platform to review progress under the Lagos State Health Sector Strategic Master Plan, noting that projects such as the Massey Children’s Specialist Hospital, the Mental Health Institute and the proposed Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences are positioning the State as a leading healthcare and medical innovation hub in Africa.
Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Musbau Aina-Lawal, pledged continued legislative support for healthcare reforms, while the President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Dr. Njide Ndili, reaffirmed the private sector’s commitment to partnering with the State to achieve universal health coverage.
The convention continues on August 7 with technical sessions on healthcare financing, digital transformation, patient safety, primary healthcare and innovation.
