The Federal Government has commended Anambra State for its progress in implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), citing improvements in emergency medical services, health insurance administration and access to essential healthcare.
The commendation followed an assessment visit by a Federal Ministry of Health monitoring team to evaluate the fund’s implementation and its impact on healthcare delivery across the state.
The team, led by Mr Agboola Olasunkanmi, Assistant Director, Informal Sector, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), assessed the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, State Primary Health Care Development Board, State Emergency Medical Treatment Committee and NCDC Gateway.
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Olasunkanmi said the exercise was aimed at identifying achievements, implementation challenges and areas requiring further Federal Government support, stressing that it was designed to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery rather than penalise participating agencies.
He particularly praised the state’s performance in emergency medical services, health insurance claims management and payments to healthcare facilities, while acknowledging the contribution of private sector participation to ambulance services and emergency response.
However, he urged stronger coordination among agencies implementing the fund, recommending quarterly meetings of the State Oversight Committee to improve collaboration, accountability and effective programme monitoring.
Responding, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said the fund should be assessed based on its measurable benefits to residents, particularly improvements in access to quality healthcare at the primary healthcare level.
Obidike said differences in service delivery between BHCPF-supported facilities and those without the intervention were increasingly evident, citing improved support for frontline health workers, availability of medical equipment and access to essential healthcare services.
He highlighted improvements in telemedicine services across selected BHCPF-supported wards, explaining that nurses and community health extension workers could consult doctors for professional guidance when attending to patients.
He said the provision of communication devices and data support had strengthened access to medical expertise in underserved communities.
The commissioner cited a case in which a nurse sought medical guidance after attending to a woman with severe leg swelling suspected to be linked to an underlying medical condition, noting that remote professional consultation helped facilitate appropriate medical attention and demonstrated the potential of telemedicine to prevent complications.
He added that improved access to essential medicines and healthcare services through health insurance programmes was another important benefit of the fund, particularly for residents accessing care at primary healthcare facilities.
The Federal Government’s assessment is expected to continue with further field visits to identify implementation gaps and areas requiring additional support, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, expand health insurance coverage and improve access to affordable, quality medical services.
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