The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is being expanded to more than 13,000 centers, while states are urged to increase their own contributions.
The Federal Government has approved ₦40.7 billion for distribution to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, alongside a decision to enrol another 5,000 primary healthcare facilities in the programme.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate announced the decisions in Abuja at the fund’s 16th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting. With the new facilities included, the number covered by the arrangement will exceed 13,000 nationwide.
Pate linked the increase in available funding to fiscal changes under the Tinubu administration, saying monthly inflows into the fund and transfers to states had nearly doubled. He explained that the ₦40.7 billion constituted the federal contribution from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, not the total amount that should be spent on grassroots healthcare.
The minister urged state and local governments to commit additional resources rather than treat the federal allocation as sufficient. He said the selection of newly admitted facilities would consider population, disease burden, distance from existing services and other equity factors, so that communities with the greatest needs could benefit.
Beyond expanding the number of centers, the committee reviewed the availability and affordability of medicines and other medical supplies. It also considered how expenditure could be tied more closely to better treatment and prevention outcomes for patients.
Pate disclosed that savings realized through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency would be applied to recruiting frontline personnel. Under the proposed arrangement, state governments would progressively assume responsibility for employing these workers over the next three years. He asked states to prepare financially and administratively for that change.
The minister also raised public health concerns involving Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria. Although he described cholera’s case fatality rate as relatively low, he said approximately 95 per cent of reported cases were concentrated in one state. He urged parents to ensure children received routine immunization against diphtheria.
Civil society organizations, traditional and community leaders, journalists and the ICPC joint task force were encouraged to scrutinize the use of BHCPF resources. Minister of State for Health Iziaq Adekunle Salako said stronger oversight and possible joint procurement arrangements could help reduce the cost of medical commodities.
Salako further disclosed that the oversight committee had agreed to bring prison inmates into the Vulnerable Group Health Insurance Fund, potentially extending basic health coverage to about 90,000 people in custody. Effective implementation will depend on timely releases, staffing, supplies and transparent accounting at facility level.
