COVID:19: FG to Provide N11bn Insurance Cover for Health Workers

• COVID:19: FG to Provide N11bn Insurance Cover for Health Workers

The Federal Government has collaborated with the Nigerian insurance industry to provide N11 billion insurance cover for 5,000 health workers in the frontline of COVID-19 war.

On Thursday, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had said 40 health workers in the frontline tested positive for COVID-19.

The insurance industry had approached the Federal Government as part of the contribution to bringing an end to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

According to the document presented to the chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 through the minister of finance, budget and national planning, the benefit is payable to the families or named beneficiary of the workers that died in the line of duty.

A total of N3 million would be paid to medical doctors while pharmacists/nurses would receive a sum of N2 million each and N1 million would be paid for others working alongside listed experts.

“The estimated liability of the insuring companies is N11 billion, and premium in the sum of N112.5 billion for the cover has been fully paid by the industry in line with the principle of ‘No Premium No Cover’.

“A total of 19 life insurance companies have been accredited to provide the cover with FBNInsurance Ltd as lead underwriter, to whom all claims will be referred to. The cover is for a period of 12 months effective 14th April, 2020,” Sunday Thomas, acting commissioner for insurance, said Friday.