Frontline health workers in Nigeria such as medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses who die in the course of treating the dreaded coronavirus disease will be compensated by underwriters.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who chairs the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, disclosed this on Friday.
He commended the insurance industry for the support while calling on other sectors of the economy to join in the fight against the ravaging pandemic.
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Acting Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Sunday Thomas, had earlier presented the evidence of the life insurance policy to the SGF through the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.
He also put the estimated liability of the insuring companies at N11bn.
The insurance package, which is payable to families or named beneficiaries of any frontline health worker who dies on duty in the fight against the pandemic, includes N3m for doctors, N2m for nurses and N1m for others.
“The scope of the life insurance cover is for a maximum of 5,000 health workers who are employed in the fight against COVID-19.
“The premium in the sum of N112.5m for the cover has been fully paid by the Nigerian insurance 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.
“In the event of any fatality, the relevant agencies of government will immediately advise the lead underwriter – FBN Insurance Limited – who will make the request for relevant documents needed for payment of the claim,” the statement read in part.
The insurance policy is spread over 12 months, effective April 14, 2020.
