The Federal Government has sanctioned the disbursement of ₦12.9 billion from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the third quarter of 2024. This allocation, part of the 2023 budget, aligns with the 2020 BHCPF guidelines and anticipates a review of the new guidelines.
This announcement was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, during the 7th meeting of the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee in Abuja.
Earlier in March 2024, the government approved the disbursement of ₦25 billion from the BHCPF, intended for direct facility financing and workforce incentives across the nation. Data from the BHCPF and the Africa Health Budget Network indicate that between 2019 and 2022, approximately ₦89 billion was distributed through the fund. However, only 7,250 out of the 35,514 primary healthcare centres in Nigeria currently benefit from the BHCPF.
Professor Pate highlighted the ongoing reforms under Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative, authorized by President Bola Tinubu, aimed at enhancing the BHCPF. A sub-committee, established during the 5th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting in late 2023, is spearheading these reforms. Key developments include the review of the BHCPF guidelines and proposed reforms for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), which received approval in March 2024.
Pate also noted significant issues identified in the BHCPF’s implementation, prompting all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to commit to immediate corrective actions. The Ministerial Oversight Committee approved the release of ₦25 billion to key health agencies to ensure continuous service delivery while awaiting the new guidelines expected by the third quarter of 2024.
The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, reported that two memos were approved by the committee. The first, jointly presented by the NCDC and EMT gateways, outlined proposed reforms focusing on programmatic improvements and fiduciary interventions to ensure proper resource utilization. The second memo addressed the disbursement of ₦12.9 billion for the third quarter, following the previous ₦25 billion allocation for the first two quarters.
Dr. Aina emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance coordination and resource efficiency across various health sectors, stressing the importance of improving primary health centres’ quality. He underscored the need for state and external funding, such as World Bank loans, to refurbish facilities, prioritizing those most in need.
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director General of NHIA, highlighted the importance of transparency in fund allocation and expenditure, promoting accountability among stakeholders. He noted that around 2.7 million Nigerians are now insured under this initiative, ensuring access to basic healthcare services at primary healthcare centres without out-of-pocket expenses.
The BHCPF, established in 2014 under the National Health Act, aims to improve access to primary healthcare by providing a Basic Minimum Package of Health, funded by at least one percent of the federal government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund and other sources, including donor contributions.
NAN
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