The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has announced a fresh disbursement of N32 billion to upgrade over 8,000 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Health Commissioners Forum and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani revealed this on Monday in Abuja at the 11th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting.
He explained that the funds—released in two tranches of N16 billion—would be used for PHC renovations, medical commodity procurement, and capacity building for frontline health workers.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the intervention is already making an impact, with over 37 million visits to PHCs recorded nationwide.
“This is a testament to what collaboration between federal, state, and local governments—alongside development partners and civil society—can achieve to ensure Nigerians access affordable, quality care,” Pate said.
According to him, all 36 states have aligned with the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with local governments integrated through the NPHCDA-led compact.
“Each state has its unique context, but we’re seeing strong commitment from governors and commissioners. Our shared priorities are data, accountability, and service delivery,” he added.
Pate emphasized that the ongoing transformation in Nigeria’s health system is grounded in transparent collaboration and strong political will, noting that the President’s backing has helped align federal and state priorities.
Addressing concerns from the Global Fund’s Country Management Support (CMS) team about over 50,000 untreated TB-positive individuals, Pate said the treatment gap is largely due to improved detection.
“The 2025 budget includes dedicated funding for drug procurement to meet the rising demand,” he noted. “We’ve significantly scaled testing, and the world has taken notice. Now we must close the treatment gap.”
He stressed the need for long-term sustainability, saying Nigeria must reduce its dependence on external funding by mobilizing and reinvesting more domestic resources.
“For too long, we’ve relied on donor funds. That must change,” Pate said. “Reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and the new tax bill will increase public revenues—critical for financing healthcare, education, and more.”
He also highlighted the impact of President Tinubu’s Executive Order on Local Manufacturing, which has eased raw material importation and boosted confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
Initiatives like Medipool and State Drug Management Agencies, he said, are improving demand forecasting and stabilizing the healthcare commodity market.
“Our industry is beginning to respond. If we shape demand and support local production, we can secure medicine supply and reduce long-term cost pressures,” Pate explained.
He called for sustained political will and grassroots engagement, affirming that while challenges remain, Nigeria is on the path to building a resilient, inclusive health system.
“We’re not there yet, but we’re making progress. We’ll keep working—imperfect as the process may be—because the goal is clear: deliver healthcare to all Nigerians,” he said.
At the 8th MOC meeting in October 2024, the Federal Government approved N12.91 billion across four BHCPF gateways—NHIA, NPHCDA, NCDC, and NEMSAS—to support PHCs, health insurance, disease control, and emergency medical services.
By the 9th MOC in December 2024, key milestones included over 10 million Nigerians accessing BHCPF-supported services in a year and the enrollment of 2.4 million new individuals in health insurance, raising the total to 18.6 million insured.
The NHIA also announced a 60% increase in capitation and a 40% rise in fee-for-service payments to improve service quality.
At the 10th MOC meeting in March 2025, another N32.88 billion was approved to improve healthcare delivery across more than 10,000 PHCs, covering reproductive health, immunisation, malaria treatment, and emergency response.
To ensure transparency, the government pledged to publish all disbursement details on the BHCPF website. Independent verification agents, public financial monitors, and 744 local health workers have also been deployed to track fund utilization and service delivery.
The BHCPF operational guidelines were also updated to enhance governance and align implementation with the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), reinforcing collaboration across all government tiers.
