The House of Representatives has given Health Maintenance Organisations up to Wednesday to submit audited accounts on how the N351bn spent on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)  since 2005 was utilised.

Chairman of the House committee on health, Chike Okafor on Sunday said 35 of the organisations had so far failed to comply with the committee’s directive.

He said, “As we announced on the final day of the public hearing on the allegations of fraud in the health insurance administration and the maltreatment of enrollees on NHIS, the committee sent auditors to Lagos State to thoroughly scrutinise the books of the HMOs.

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“This was done in order to compare the figures the NHIS said it paid to HMOs overtime with what they actually received.

“So far, the auditors have gone through the accounts of 24 of them; 35 of these companies are yet to meet with those we sent.

“The NHIS provided us with all the documents to show how much they paid, but we cannot conclude the investigation without checking what the HMOs received. This is why we have given them till Wednesday to allow for a checking of their accounts.

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“But if they don’t comply, we will be compelled to move on because we are bent on submitting our report on Thursday.”

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole had suspended the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Yusuf Usman for alleged corruption while the lawmakers were still investigating.

The lower chamber however ordered him to reinstate Usman and also summoned the minister to explain the suspension.

Azeez