The Federal Government has approved N32,880,443,906.25 under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to enhance healthcare delivery, with a focus on primary care, emergency services, immunisation, reproductive health and malaria treatment.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the 10th quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee for BHCPF, which reviewed progress on the fund’s implementation.
Pate reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare access and affordability, particularly at the grassroots level.
“This meeting is part of our continuous efforts to strengthen governance in the health sector and expand access to affordable healthcare, emergency medical treatment, ambulance services and overall health security through the various BHCPF gateways,” he stated.
He explained that the funds would be disbursed to states, local governments and 10,000 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) nationwide through the BHCPF’s four gateways.
To ensure transparency and accountability, he said details of the disbursement would be publicly available on the BHCPF website. The government has also activated independent verification agents and public financial monitoring offices to track resource utilisation.
Additionally, 744 local healthcare workers have been engaged to monitor fund allocation and service delivery at the grassroots level.
The minister emphasised that these funds would not only provide essential commodities and personnel but also ensure the financial sustainability of PHCs.
“The goal is to maximise these resources to improve child health and advance President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the health sector,” Pate said.
He added that the committee reviewed updated BHCPF guidelines to improve governance structures and streamline fund allocation.
Highlighting the impact of the emergency response gateway, he noted its critical role in saving lives, particularly in cases of road traffic accidents and maternal emergencies.
Pate also called for greater public awareness about available healthcare services and funding transparency. He urged the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) to help disseminate this information.
Looking ahead, he said the BHCPF governance reforms align with the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) to ensure effective collaboration between federal, state and local governments in healthcare delivery.
He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to expanding healthcare coverage and ensuring that funds directly benefit communities.
“This is not just a plan; work is already in progress, in collaboration with all levels of government, to improve healthcare for Nigerians,” he stated.
Board chairman of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), Dr. Jubril Ismail highlighted the crucial role of NEMSAS in saving lives during emergencies, traffic accidents, and other critical situations.
He noted that significant strides had been made in emergency response, with strong government support in recent months ensuring effective service delivery.
World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi stressed the importance of funding, governance, transparency and coordination in Nigeria’s health sector.
He explained that the decision to maintain a 10 per cent national and 15 per cent sub-national disbursement factor was made to prevent service disruptions while awaiting the resolution of local government autonomy issues.
“The task team is overseeing this process, with ongoing consultations on improving financial mechanisms,” Kazadi said.
He emphasised the need for: stronger financial governance, improved coordination among key stakeholders and increased funding for Nigeria’s health sector
According to him, WHO, federal and state government agencies, and international partners must work together to ensure efficient resource allocation, quality service delivery, and long-term sustainability.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is a Nigerian government initiative designed to sustainably finance and strengthen primary healthcare services.
It supports improved service delivery, accountability, and emergency healthcare access through four primary gateways:
1. State-Level Gateway: Allocates funds through state governments to enhance overall healthcare management.
2. Local Government Gateway: Directs resources to local government areas for community-level healthcare improvements.
3. Primary Health Care Centre Gateway: Provides PHCs with essential resources, including infrastructure and equipment.
4. Emergency & Specialised Services Gateway: Targets emergency treatments, ambulance services, and specialised programs such as immunisation and reproductive health.
By ensuring effective fund utilization and stronger oversight, the N32.88 billion approval marks a significant step toward improving healthcare accessibility, affordability and sustainability across Nigeria.
