FG Disburses N130 Billion for Healthcare Through Basic Health Care Provision Fund
The Federal Government of Nigeria has disbursed a total of N130.8 billion to enhance healthcare delivery through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) since its inception in 2019. This was revealed by the BHCPF Director, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, during a media engagement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Dr. Muhammad outlined that an additional N12.9 billion is yet to be disbursed for 2024. He provided a breakdown of the disbursements over the years: N14 billion in 2019, N13 billion in 2020, N34 billion in 2021, N13 billion in 2022, N31 billion in 2023, and N26.8 billion so far in 2024.
The BHCPF is a vital component of Nigeria’s National Health Act 2014, aimed at ensuring access to basic healthcare services for all Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable populations. The fund is disbursed through four main gateways: the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC), and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr. Muhammad emphasized the importance of the fund, stating, “The BHCPF is a special Federal Government intervention fund; it is not an allocation, it is a grant, and for you to get a grant, you have to earn that grant.” He further explained that states or local governments must fulfill certain conditions, such as providing counterpart funding and ensuring that healthcare facilities meet minimum standards, before they can access the funds.
“This special intervention does not mean that states and local governments would not carry out their responsibilities toward healthcare delivery, rather, they are to be held accountable,” Dr. Muhammad added, stressing the importance of accountability in the disbursement and utilization of the funds.
Dr. Oritseweyinmi Ogbe, Director of Special Duties at NPHCDA, also highlighted that 45 percent of the fund is allocated through the agency for the provision of essential medicines, vaccines, and consumables in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). He noted that the fund also supports the maintenance of facilities, equipment, and transportation, as well as the development of human resources in PHCs.
Ogbe further explained that reforms carried out by NPHCDA have led to the classification of PHCs according to their functionality, ensuring that only those meeting the required standards receive funding.
As the Federal Government continues to roll out the BHCPF, the focus remains on strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, improving service delivery, and ensuring that the nation’s most vulnerable populations have access to essential health services.
