From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced a quarterly disbursement of N40.7 billion to states under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and approved the expansion of services to an additional 5,000 primary healthcare facilities nationwide.
The expansion will increase the number of facilities supported under the programme from more than 8,000 to over 13,000, with the government also planning to recruit frontline health workers to strengthen service delivery.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of a meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee overseeing implementation of the fund.
He said the additional facilities were selected on equity considerations, including disease burden, population distribution and distance to healthcare services, to improve access for underserved communities.
Pate attributed the increased resources available to the fund to the macroeconomic and fiscal reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stressing that higher government revenue must translate into better health outcomes for Nigerians.
He, however, urged states to fulfil their responsibilities in sustaining healthcare funding and ensuring that the additional resources improved services.
“The only way this will work is if we approach this as a national health system. The Federal Government does its part, but states must also do their part to ensure that the funding is sustained.”
On staffing, the minister said savings within the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) would support the recruitment of frontline health workers, with states and local governments expected to assume responsibility for funding them within three years.
He also highlighted health insurance coverage for about 90,000 vulnerable beneficiaries as part of efforts to improve access to affordable care.
Pate said the government was strengthening accountability through digital systems and artificial intelligence to track expenditure, alongside cybersecurity measures to protect the systems.
He outlined plans for pooled procurement of medicines to improve the availability of essential supplies across supported facilities.
The minister also reviewed efforts to respond to disease outbreaks, including Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria, stressing the need to strengthen preparedness and healthcare delivery.
Beyond primary healthcare, he highlighted ongoing rehabilitation of federal teaching and other tertiary hospitals, including improvements to diagnostic services and cancer treatment facilities.