The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of ₦12.911 billion to four key health agencies in Nigeria, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).
The funds, allocated for the fourth quarter of 2024, were sanctioned during the eighth meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), held in Abuja.
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The disbursement is part of efforts to improve the implementation, transparency, and accountability within Nigeria’s healthcare system. The MOC, which oversees the BHCPF, aims to ensure that the funds are utilized effectively across the four entities to support critical health services and infrastructure, including the expansion of health insurance coverage through the NHIA.
As part of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative, reforms have been introduced to strengthen the governance and operational architecture of the BHCPF. These reforms include revising the BHCPF guidelines, enhancing the accountability framework, and improving coordination among the agencies involved in healthcare delivery.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to improving health outcomes for vulnerable Nigerians. He highlighted that 2.4 million individuals have been enrolled in the Vulnerable Groups Fund under the NHIA in the past year, enabling them to access essential healthcare services.
The NHIA plays a key role in expanding health insurance coverage across the country, particularly for vulnerable populations. This funding will help enhance the agency’s efforts to ensure that more Nigerians can access affordable healthcare through insurance schemes.
The MOC will reconvene in December 2024 to disburse funds for the first quarter of 2025, continuing its oversight of healthcare funding and reforms in line with the Federal Government’s broader health agenda.
