The federal authorities says it has disbursed N249.6 billion to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the previous three years, representing 77.1 per cent of the N323.6 billion disbursed for the reason that fund was established in 2019.
The authorities additionally plans to develop direct financing to not less than 17,600 major healthcare facilities and supply health insurance coverage protection for about 90,000 Nigerians in correctional facilities.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja throughout a ministerial briefing on three years of implementation of the fund below President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Established below the National Health Act 2014, the BHCPF is designed to enhance entry to important healthcare, notably for poor and weak Nigerians.
Mr Salako stated the fund had turn out to be a key instrument for implementing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023 to strengthen healthcare supply and financing.
Disbursements and allocations
According to Mr Salako, complete releases to the fund stood at N422.3 billion as of September 2026, with N323.6 billion disbursed.
He stated the Ministerial Oversight Committee authorized an extra N40.76 billion at its assembly on 14 October. The approval is anticipated to lift cumulative disbursements to N364.3 billion, together with N290.2 billion below the Tinubu administration, in response to the assertion.
Speaking on the newest allocation, Mr Salako stated N19.87 billion would go to the National Health Insurance Authority, N18.34 billion to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, N2.04 billion to emergency medical therapy and N509.48 million to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
He stated the allocations would help health insurance coverage, major healthcare providers, emergency medical response and illness surveillance.
Mr Salako added that the federal government was working with the National Assembly to extend the fund’s statutory allocation from one per cent to 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Health insurance coverage and first healthcare
On monetary safety, Mr Salako stated nationwide health insurance coverage enrolment elevated from about 16.2 million individuals in 2023 to 23.06 million by the third quarter of 2026.
He stated the BHCPF had supported insurance coverage protection for 3,182,943 weak Nigerians with National Identification Numbers.
The fund, he added, had additionally supported free surgical procedures and rehabilitation for girls with vesicovaginal fistula, emergency caesarean sections and different emergency obstetric and new child care interventions for 96,068 girls and infants.
Mr Salako stated the oversight committee had additionally authorized health insurance coverage protection for about 90,000 Nigerians in correctional facilities, with implementation anticipated to develop entry to important healthcare for inmates.
On major healthcare supply, he stated direct facility financing presently helps 8,309 PHCs throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated the federal government deliberate to incorporate an additional 5,212 facilities, bringing the projected complete to 13,521. However, the federal government’s broader goal is to develop direct financing to not less than 17,600 facilities.
Mr Salako added that the variety of facilities attaining Level 2 readiness elevated from 1,748 in 2024 to three,202 in the third quarter of 2026.
He additionally stated PHC attendance rose from 34.55 million in 2023 to 43.06 million by the second quarter of 2026.
Emergency providers and health staff
On emergency medical providers, Mr Salako stated operational buildings had been established in all 36 states and the FCT.
Through the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport preparations, emergency transport providers had been established in 171 of the 172 native authorities areas lined by the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative. The authorities plans to increase the initiative to 200 native authorities areas by December 2026.
He stated the emergency response system had recorded 168,571 ambulance service episodes since 2023, overlaying obstetric emergencies, neonatal and under-five emergencies, highway visitors accidents, snakebites, burns and different pressing medical situations.
Mr Salako stated 78,054 frontline health staff had been educated in the direction of a nationwide goal of 120,000.
He additionally stated the oversight committee authorized phased wage help for 13,800 community-based health staff and expert start attendants. Under the association, the federal authorities would cowl eligible wage prices in full in the primary 12 months, 67 per cent in the second 12 months and 33 per cent in the third 12 months, earlier than state governments assume full accountability.
READ ALSO: FG partners US foundation to mobilise $1bn to tackle child malnutrition
He stated the committee had additionally authorized the operationalisation of MEDIPOOL, a pooled procurement mechanism meant to enhance entry to important medicines and health commodities, topic to high quality assurance and accountability safeguards.
Accountability and subsequent steps
Mr Salako urged state governments to fulfil their counterpart financing obligations and guarantee sustainable funding for major healthcare providers. He counseled Katsina State for releasing N240.79 million to its State Health Insurance Agency to help expanded protection.
He stated the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was strengthening monetary accountability by means of the implementation of the up to date BHCPF Guidelines 2.0 and collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to trace the usage of public funds.
He emphasised that well timed reporting, clear funds, and expenditure verification have been vital to make sure funds reached healthcare facilities and translated into providers for sufferers.
Mr Salako stated the federal government remained dedicated to rising home health financing and bettering entry to important healthcare, notably for weak Nigerians.
Discover extra from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your e mail.
