Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has said the Federal Government will disburse fifty billion naira to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in the first quarter of 2024.
He disclosed this during the fifth Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
In his statement, Pate outlined the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare facilities, stating, “That is part of the target that President Bola Tinubu has set for us so that we can expand the facilities over the next four years from 8,000 to almost 17,000 PHCs. Also, to enroll more vulnerable Nigerians to have access to quality health care services.”
The Minister emphasised that the funds already accrued in the BHCPF would be distributed through the state’s PHC facilities to provide essential services to women and children.
“The committee’s work is to continue as it would refine the criteria, issues of the package, and how providers are paid. We will ensure that it’s embedded in the context of improved accountability and answerability so that the facilities receiving these resources at both the state and local government levels can answer to their people.”
He further stated, “We will do that transparently, of course correcting as may be necessary, but all on the path to achieve the direction that the President has set for us to improve the health and well being of Nigerians.”
Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners in Nigeria, Oyebanji Filani, speaking at the meeting, said it was meant to review and agree on methods to enhance the country’s focus of achieving universal health coverage through BHCPF.
Similarly, the country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Walter Mulombo, expressed optimism about the meeting’s outcomes, especially in the context of the recently unveiled Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
