The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N32 billion to health facilities under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund BHCPF following deliberations at the Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate explained that the meeting is part of quarterly reviews to assess progress in the health sector under President Bola Tinubu’s health sector renewal investment initiative. He confirmed that the funds being released through the BHCPF are already reaching facilities.
“The resources that the Federal Government is disbursing through the BHCPF are getting to the facilities, and we also approved the disbursement of N32 billion to the facilities,” Pate said.
The minister added that reforms approved last year are being implemented, with plans to expand direct facility financing to 5,000 additional health centres. Tariffs for emergency ambulance services were also reviewed and increased to encourage both public and private providers to respond effectively.
Pate highlighted the impact of free emergency obstetric treatment under President Tinubu’s policy, noting that over 40,000 women have received emergency services reimbursed, and more than 4,000 women have benefited from the free fistula treatment programme.
On disease outbreaks, he said Nigeria recorded more than 200 episodes in the past year, most of which were contained early through surveillance and rapid response by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention NCDC. Over 102 million children were reached during the integrated measles and rubella campaign last year.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Iziaq Salako emphasised transparency and accountability, noting that civil society organisations play a key role in monitoring the use of public health funds.
The BHCPF, elished under Section 11 of the National Health Act 2014, is funded by government allocations donor grants and private sector contributions. It is managed through the National Health Insurance Scheme, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee.
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