THE LEGALITY OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME FOR NIGERIAN MUSLIMS

Abstract

Human life faces challenges) and health is not left out. It suffices to say that life and health are inseparable 
twins. Protection of human life should be prioritized by giving special attention to health, this is because if 
health is challenged, medical attention becomes essential, and as such, requires finances. National Health 
Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was established to facilitate quality and cost-effective health care services(s). 
Notwithstanding the importance of this scheme, its legality under the Islamic Law is challenged, and this 
has militated against its acceptability among some Muslim Scholars, because Muslims' acts and 
involvements are guided by the Islamic Law and the operation of (NHIS) is partly inconsistent with the 
Islamic Law. The article investigates the operational aspect of (NHIS) that are in contravention of the 
Islamic Law, it analyzes the mode of operation of the Islamic Health Insurance (Takaful).It gives insight on 
Islamic law compliant Health Insurance (Takaful) and creates awareness of the Islamic Health Insurance 
(Takaful), proposing Tabarru’ and waqf as viable Islamic tools to sustain health insurance in Nigeria. To 
achieve this, the doctrinal research method has been adopted, wherein literatures were consulted and 
reviewed, the result is to divulge the inconsistency of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with 
Islamic Law, intimate the Muslim majority of the benefits in Islamic Health Insurance (Takaful).