BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, ABUJA
The Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) recently approved the release of N12.9 billion to states for the third quarter of 2024.
The MOC, chaired by Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed the approval, explaining that this funding aims to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainability in Nigeria’s healthcare services.
The committee emphasized that the BHCPF reform is crucial for improving health outcomes, including antenatal coverage, skilled birth attendance, and immunization rates.
The committee also discussed the redesign of the BHCPF, which would ensure better alignment of resources and improve health insurance coverage.
On the rationale for reforms and redesign, it added that a thorough assessment of the BHCPF revealed major flaws.
All 36 states and the FCT have committed to implementing corrective measures, and the MOC approved the release of funds to various health agencies based on the current 2020 guideline.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, while speaking on the meeting’s outcomes, highlighted the updates from various gateways and the approval of memos submitted to the MOC.
Aina explained that the gateways include, the National Health Insurance Authority gateway, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency gateway, the NCDC gateway, and the Emergency Transport Services gateway.
He also noted that the committee coordinates the sector-wide approach adopted to implement the reforms of this government.
Also speaking, the Director General of the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, noted the importance of transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the healthcare sector.
Ohiri revealed that over 2.7 million Nigerians are currently in insurance gateways and that states have been prompted to contribute funding to support the poorer population.
He disclosed that the NHIA has also established a medicine initiative to ensure availability, affordability, and sustainability of medicines for citizens.
Ohiri expressed optimism that the reforms would lead to improved health outcomes and urged stakeholders to work together to achieve this goal.