The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the disbursement of ₦32 billion to strengthen primary healthcare services, emergency medical treatment, and disease control efforts across the country.
The announcement was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, while addressing journalist at the end of the 10th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Funds, (BHCPF) in Abuja the nations capital.
According to Prof. Pate, the fund will be allocated to states, local governments, and over 8,000 primary healthcare centers nationwide.
He emphasized that this financial support will aid the expansion of essential healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations, including women and children.
“It will also fund the national ambulance scheme and emergency medical treatment, as well as enhance the capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks,” he explained.
The minister acknowledging a significant funding gap, noted that only $2 million had recently been secured from international donors, despite this shortfall, he reassured Nigerians that TB treatment, alongside malaria and HIV/AIDS interventions, would continue.
“We have commodities available in warehouses, and even the U.S. government has granted waivers to ensure continuous treatment. However, we must accelerate our procurement process using domestic resources.
“We may also have to procure from countries with economic conditions similar to ours rather than relying entirely on external funding,” he stated.
Prof. Pate also addressed concerns regarding international organizations making statements that might suggest a shortage of essential medical supplies in Nigeria.
He urged such organizations to consider the efforts being made by the government before issuing remarks that could cause unnecessary panic.
A key milestone from the 10th MOC meeting was the approval of a revised guideline for the BHCPF, which aims to ensure a more equitable distribution of healthcare funding.
The minister explained that the updated guideline had been reviewed in consultation with the Attorney General of the Federation and was designed to enhance access to quality healthcare at the grassroots level.
“The reforms we have implemented over the past 18 months have significantly improved the performance of BHCPF-supported primary healthcare centers. These facilities are now operating at higher and better levels than those not covered under the fund,” he noted.
Prof. Pate also acknowledged existing bureaucratic challenges in accessing the NCDC gateway funds at the subnational level. He revealed that state governments had encountered difficulties opening designated Treasury Single Account (TSA) bank accounts, leading to delays in fund disbursement.
However, he expressed confidence that with the recent appointment of a new Accountant-General of the Federation, these bottlenecks would soon be resolved.
He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, stating that the administration remains fully determined to ensure that all citizens in need of medical treatment receive care.
“It is not an easy task, but we will do our very best. We encourage Nigerians, civil society organizations, and our partners to support these efforts positively,” he added.
The 10th MOC meeting served as a platform for reviewing Nigeria’s healthcare financing mechanisms and strategizing ways to improve the efficiency and sustainability of health sector investments.
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