The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to overcoming challenges associated with the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) as part of its broader goal to achieve universal health coverage and enhance health outcomes for Nigerians.
During a media engagement organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Lagos on Wednesday, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee of BHCPF, detailed ongoing efforts to address issues impacting the fund’s effectiveness.
“Effective implementation and oversight are essential to ensure that the fund achieves its intended objectives and makes a tangible impact on health outcomes of the Nigerian population.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has made giant steps to ensure that the BHCPF is utilised efficiently in the country.
“Also, to galvanise the various sectors and stakeholders in health to focus on one goal, to work together in one direction, to make sure that our combined effort is greater than our individual results,” he said.
On implementation and monitoring, Muhammad said the fund was closely monitored to ensure transparency, accountability and achievement of its objectives.
“This involves collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, as well as civil society organisations and international partners,” he said.
Dr. Muhammad explained that the BHCPF supports healthcare delivery by allocating resources to various agencies, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC), and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr. Oritseweyinmi Ogbe, Director of Special Duties at NPHCDA, emphasized that 45 percent of the BHCPF funds are allocated to essential medicines, vaccines, and the maintenance of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities.
Recent reforms include classifying Primary Healthcare Centres based on functionality to enhance resource efficiency.
The BHCPF allocations over the years have been as follows:
2019: N14 billion
2020: N13 billion
2021: N34 billion
2022: N13 billion
2023: N31 billion
2024 (so far): N26.8 billion
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was established under the National Health Act 2014. It aims to ensure that every Nigerian has access to essential healthcare services.
The fund is primarily financed by one percent of the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and donor contributions.
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