The federal government has said that it has recruited 2,497 doctors, midwives/nurses and community health extension workers in the last six months to bridge the manpower gap in the health sector due to the emigration of health workers.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, who disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, said an additional 1,400 health facilities now had skilled birth attendants.
He said, “This has increased the number of health facility deliveries to as high as 230,000 deliveries per month.”
The minister said the federal government would release N50bn as the first tranche of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF). The BHCPF is a catalytic fund geared towards improving access to primary healthcare.
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He explained that, “This infusion of funds will breathe new life into our primary healthcare facilities, ensuring that quality care is accessible to all citizens.”
He described the rising cost of pharmaceuticals as a pressing concern, adding that the federal government was taking decisive action to address the issue.
He said, “An executive order will soon be issued to curb the escalating drug prices in the short-term while our mid to long-term goal involves the domestication of imported drugs within the next three years in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade.”
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