The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako has credited transparency, inclusiveness and enhanced inter-agency collaboration as propellers of the steady gains in the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
Speaking at the 11th meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) in Abuja, Salako said the Federal Ministry of Health was firmly committed to open governance and accountability in the health sector.
According to him, the oversight mechanism now serves as a visible reflection of that commitment. “The MOC reflects the level of transparency and inclusiveness that is now driving the system. We are seeing more active engagement from sub-national governments, civil society organisations and the four implementing gateways. This synergy is critical to delivering better health outcomes,” he said.
Salako noted that this collaborative approach was already translating into increased enrolment in health insurance and a more streamlined alignment of stakeholder priorities. He emphasised that the Presidential Executive Order targeting reforms in the healthcare value chain was already yielding measurable results, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Drawing from a recent interaction with a leading drug manufacturer, Salako commended the National Assembly for its support in fast-tracking key regulatory adjustments. However, he cautioned that reforms must ultimately serve the public. “Are these benefits being transferred to the patients?” he asked, adding that cost savings from reforms must be felt at pharmacy counters, not just on balance sheets.
He encouraged openness to innovative proposals that may not always fit neatly into conventional funding categories. One such proposal, he said, came from a pharmaceutical company interested in exploring culturally sensitive and ethically nuanced side effects, a concept he welcomed and hoped to explore further.
“The revitalisation of primary healthcare, a key agenda of President Bola Tinubu, is no longer just a plan; it is becoming visible and measurable,” Salako said.
Science Nigeria reports that the BHCPF, established under the National Health Act, aims to improve access to affordable, quality care through sustainable financing. It continues to gain momentum across Nigeria’s 36 states. The MOC serves as a platform for tracking implementation and aligning national and sub-national efforts in the journey toward Universal Health Coverage.
