The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says that transparency, inclusiveness, and inter-agency collaboration are driving steady improvements in the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made this known on Monday in Abuja during the 11th meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) on the BHCPF.
According to Salako, the fund is gradually achieving its objectives of strengthening primary healthcare delivery and expanding access to essential services for Nigerians, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
He commended stakeholders for their commitment to the ongoing reforms and called for sustained collaboration to ensure accountability and improved health outcomes.
The BHCPF, established under the National Health Act, is designed to provide a sustainable funding mechanism for primary healthcare, with resources drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and other sources.
Salako said that the committee reflected the ministry’s commitment to inclusive and accountable health governance.
“The MOC reflects the level of transparency and inclusiveness that is now driving the system.
“We are seeing more active engagement from sub-national governments, civil society organisations and the four implementing gateways; this synergy is critical to delivering better health outcomes,” he said.
The minister said that the current process was fostering greater enrolment in health insurance, as stakeholders aligned their priorities and worked in a more coordinated manner.
He also underscored the impact of the Presidential Executive Order on unlocking the healthcare value chain, stating that its implementation was beginning to show results across different components of the health system.
“This Order has had a positive ripple effect on Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, ” he said.
He shared Insights from a recent engagement with a leading drug manufacturer, commending the Senate for its role in fast-tracking regulatory reforms.
Salako, however, raised a critical question, “Are these benefits being transferred to the patients?”
He said that the ultimate aim must be to lower drug prices at the pharmacy counter.
The minister urged stakeholders to ensure that cost savings were not absorbed solely by manufacturers but passed on to those in need.
In addition, he called for greater flexibility in evaluating innovative proposals that may fall outside traditional funding parameters.
“The revitalisation of primary healthcare, a key agenda of President Bola Tinubu, is no longer just a plan, it is becoming visible and measurable,” he said.
The news reporter said that the BHCPF, which aims to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare through sustainable financing, continues to gain traction across states.
The MOC serves as a critical platform for monitoring, reviewing, and aligning health sector progress toward Universal Health