Families of dead COVID-19 doctors to collect N3m each in N11bn insurance cover

Three weeks after the federal government’s promise, the insurance industry has announced a life assurance package that will see the next of kin of a medical doctor who dies while providing care to Covid-19 patients collect N3 million in a total N11 billion cover being offered by the sector to support the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic

Others that are to benefit under the insurance policy that is led by FBN Insurance as announced by the insurance sector regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) are beneficiaries of Nurses and pharmacists who will collect N2 million if the caregiver dies and other categories whose families are to collect N1 million benefit each in the event of any fatality.

This implies that the families of the four doctors that have died in the fight against Covid-19 will collect N3 million each while the next of kins of the 40 that have tested positive will also collect benefit if any of them dies.

Acting-Insurance Commissioner, Sunday Thomas who announced Friday stated that the premium calculated to be N112.5 million had been paid by the industry to the 19-member a consortium led by FBN Insurance who will assume the total liability of N11 billion in the death of a maximum 5000 health workers employed across the federation in the fight against Covid-19.

Zainab Ahmed, the finance minister had while announcing the fiscal measures against Covid-19 three weeks ago announced that the federal government would insure all frontline workers who are battling to keep Nigerians safe from Coronavirus.

According to the Minister, “adequate insurance, adequate compensation and support during and in the aftermath of the COVID 19 pandemic” will be offered frontline, health workers.

Zainab Ahmed who thanked the brave health workers stated that the government “would engage with the insurance industry to package special healthcare insurance which is life insurance for health care workers.”

She also stated that the federal government would complement the insurers’ initiatives by “taking steps to activate, release and (where necessary) enhance the hazard allowances provided in the remuneration structure of the Federal health sector workers.”