Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has stated that the Federal Government will allocate N50 billion to Primary Healthcare Centers in the first quarter of 2024.
This disclosure came during the fifth meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the Ministerial Oversight Committee in Abuja.
Prof. Pate emphasized that money previously accumulated in the BHCPF would be channelled through state PHC facilities to offer crucial services to women and children.
President Bola Tinubu’s goal is to increase the number of PHCs from 8,000 to over 17,000 in the next four years, with the goal of enrolling more poor Nigerians for improved access to quality healthcare services.
Pate emphasized the committee’s commitment to refining criteria, addressing packaging difficulties, and establishing how providers are reimbursed.
The overarching purpose is to instill transparency, accountability, and accountability at both the state and local levels of government.
This guarantees that the facilities that use these resources can clearly convey how money are spent and contribute to the larger aim of enhancing Nigerians’ health and well-being.
The Chairman of Nigeria’s Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, expressed confidence in the meeting’s deliberations. The purpose is to use the BHCPF to chart a clear path to Universal Health Coverage. Critical documents were debated, laying the groundwork for more accountability and transparency in money disbursement and monitoring.
The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, praised the meeting’s discussions, particularly in light of the newly announced Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
According to him, the conversations set the tone for business, expediting the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals in the health sector.
The BHCPF, established under Section 11 of the National Health Act, is responsible for funding a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services and increasing fiscal space for health. It is critical in boosting access to primary healthcare, strengthening the national health system, and ensuring PHCs’ normal daily operating costs are paid, ultimately improving healthcare access for all.
