The Federal Government has established a joint team involving the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to strengthen oversight of health sector spending.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate said the initiative was intended to protect public investment, identify financial vulnerabilities and build greater trust in the health system.
Pate said corruption in healthcare had consequences beyond financial losses because diverted funds could mean medicines, equipment or services failing to reach patients.
The Joint Task Team will focus heavily on prevention by identifying weaknesses before money is lost.
The ministry said it had already deployed 774 Performance and Financial Management Officers, one for every local government area, to independently verify how Basic Health Care Provision Fund resources were received and used.
Government is also using verified National Identification Numbers to authenticate beneficiaries and reduce duplication.
Digital systems are being introduced to improve tracking of funds from allocation through final use.
ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu said corruption in the health sector should also be measured in terms of poor service outcomes, maternal and infant deaths, vaccination levels and access to medical care.
He said properly functioning primary healthcare centers could be decisive for people living in rural and underserved communities.
The joint team will conduct evidence based assessments of how health funds are distributed and used across the country.
Permanent Secretary Daju Kachallom said assessments would be conducted after each quarterly disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
The BHCPF Secretariat will serve as secretariat to the task team.
The memorandum establishing the arrangement will initially run for two years and may be renewed.
Officials said the initiative should improve transparency, reduce leakages and ensure more health spending reaches frontline facilities and patients.
