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The federal government Monday disclosed that monthly disbursements into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) have almost doubled, following increased revenues from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s macro-fiscal reforms.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday after the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the BHCPF in Abuja.
Pate said the increased revenue is being channeled to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the government is expanding the number of primary healthcare facilities benefiting from the fund from over 8,000 to 13,000 with the addition of 5,000 new facilities.
According to him, the MOC deliberated on the expansion and agreed that selection of the new facilities would be based on equity considerations, including disease burden, distance and population.
“The monthly disbursements into the fund have almost doubled, as well as what the states are receiving, and we’re channeling those increased resources to support primary healthcare delivery,” Pate said.
The minister revealed that N40.7 billion will be disbursed this quarter to all states of the federation as the federal government’s contribution from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
He stressed that the amount is not the ceiling, and urged state and local governments to increase spending on health, education and other social services to complement federal government efforts.
Pate added that savings made through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will be used to recruit frontline health workers, with a 3-year transition plan for states to take ownership and recruit additional personnel.
The Minister stated the MOC reviewed outbreak responses for cholera, Lassa fever and diphtheria, urging Nigerians to ensure their children are vaccinated, noting that diphtheria is vaccine-preventable.
“The governance of the health sector has improved and that over 10 world-class diagnostic centres under MedServe and new cancer infrastructure have been completed at tertiary hospitals,” he explained.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said government is prioritising efficient utilization of the fund to achieve maximum impact, including co-procurement with CSOs and the ICPC to secure better pricing for primary healthcare commodities.
Salako disclosed that the MOC has approved health insurance coverage for about 90,000 prison inmates under the Vulnerable Group Fund.
He said the administration is committed to expanding health insurance coverage, with special attention to vulnerable populations.
Pate said civil society, community leaders, the media and the joint task force with the ICPC will monitor direct facility financing to ensure resources reach intended beneficiaries.
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