FG to reform basic health care provision fund

The Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has said the federal government has initiated significant reforms on the fund.

The MOC said the reforms led by a sub-committee established during the 5th MOC meeting in 2023, include an ongoing review of the BHCPF guideline, operational architecture reforms, and strengthening governance structures.

Speaking during the eighth MOC of the BHCPF in Abuja, the committee said the initiated reforms were in alignment with Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement of a sector-wide approach.

The MOC also approved the disbursement of N12.911 billion of the BHCPF to four health agencies for the fourth quarter of 2024 during the meeting.

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The agencies are the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).

The 8th MOC meeting also presented memos for the adoption of the revised BHCPF 2.0 guideline, the accountability framework, and the disbursement of funds for the 4th quarter of the 2023 financial year.

The MOC said it will reconvene in mid-December to disburse funds for the 1st quarter of 2025.

It said the revised BHCPF 2.0 guideline was accepted, with provisions for further amendments.

“Additional consultations with the gateways and sub-national stakeholders will be conducted to ensure alignment with the Sector-Wide Approach. The Accountability Framework has been adopted by the MOC and shall be improved upon as implementation rolls out,” the MOC said.

Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the integrated healthcare workers training is underway.

He said, “We have reached 120,000 permanent health workers as part of the president’s initiative. 40,000 have already been trained, and more will be trained going forward.”

He said 2.4 million additional enrollees have been included in the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF) over the last one year, adding that it means they are able to afford health care.

“Some states are doing well like Anambra. Some are lagging behind but it’s a journey, and we are on that journey together with the federal government, working with states and others,” he added.

He said the federal government was also working hard to tackle maternal mortality and improve child health outcomes in Nigeria.

“I think one of the amazing initiatives that this administration has done is to ensure women who have been afflicted by obstetric fistula have repairs of their fistulas and are affordable,” he added.