PRUDENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BHCPF WILL IMPROVE NATIONAL HEALTH INDICES, SAYS HEALTH MINISTER

Dr. Osagie Ehanire
Nigeria's Health Minister

"Implementation of the Basic Health Care Fund is premised on four key levers that address the drivers of poor health outcome." Ehanire.

Nigeria's Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Thursday welcomed stakeholders to the Quarterly Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF which is holding for the first time this year.

The Honourable Minister, in a welcome address, disclosed that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is enshrined in The National health ACT 2014 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; an irrevocable testament of the National commitment to achieving Health coverage. 

Ehanire stressed that, the prudent Implementation of the BHCPF will improve national health indices and firmly place Nigeria on the path to achieving universal health coverage.

"Implementation of the Basic Health Care Fund is premised on four key levers that address the drivers of poor health outcome. These levers are dedicated funding mechanism, Demand and supply side financing, strong coordination, robust governance and accountability framework." He said.

"By addressing these areas from the grassroots, we can ensure there will be a huge positive turn around in-service delivery."

"At the risk of sounding repetitive, let me remind us of the objectives of the BHCPF which I know we are very familiar with:
To achieve at least 1 (one) fully functional public or private primary health care (PHC) facility in each political ward within 7 years. To achieve at least 3 (three) fully functional public or private secondary health care facilities, benefitting from the BHCPF in each state within 5 years. To establish effective emergency medical response services in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 5 years, including a national ambulance service.To reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by 30% in 5 years and increase financial risk protection through health insurance.To increase life expectancy to at least 60 years over the next 10 years.

"So far, since the launch of the Fund in January, 2019, the Federal Government has released a total of 89.0 billion to the fund. Of this amount, we have disbursed a total of 56 billion naira to all the 36 states and FCT. Further disbursement to eligible states will be presented for approval today at this meeting." Ehanire stated.

Continuing, the Minister disclosed that, "with the disbursement so far made to states, we are providing operational funds to 7,250 primary healthcare facilities in 35 states and the FCT. With this initiative, many of our primary health care facilities are now able to provide care for our people in the communities. The goal is to ensure at least one functional PHC in every ward of the Federation.

"We have enrolled 1,042,890 poor and indigent Nigerians as beneficiaries of a comprehensive Basic Minimum Package of Health Services provided through health insurance, of which 753,999 in 24 States are now able to assess care free.

"While we strive to increase the number of enrollees, we must now focus on ensuring that our people get the quality care they deserve. We also need to create demand for the services available at the facilities for all Nigerians. To this end a draft Knowledge Management and Communication Strategy will be presented to this committee for consideration, today." Ehanire stated.

Speaking further, Dr. Ehanire stressed that, "we must entrench accountability and transparency in the implementation of the fund and ensure value for money. For this reason, I directed that all partners beyond members of the MOC, be invited to this quarterly meeting convened to provide updates and progress status of the BHCPF secretariat and also of the individual gateways.

"The National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS)," according to the Minister, "has begun training of Paramedics as a prelude to the launch of the Service in Nigeria. This will guarantee emergency medical treatment for all Nigerians. Further updates will be provided at this meeting.

In his conclusion, Dr. Osagie Ehanire further announced that, "in line with the NCDC Act 2018, NCDC gateway has now been created as a fourth Gateway of the BHCPF and will now receive funding from the BHCPF. A draft guidelines for the administration and disbursement of funds on this Gateway will be presented for consideration here today. This will strengthen the states capacity to prepare and respond to public health emergencies.

He therefore, urged all to critically consider the updates presented today which will guide us on our present status as we navigate our next steps for the rest of the year.