FG Inaugurates Health Care Provident Fund Working Committee

The federal government inaugurated a joint working committee of the health care provident fund.

The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mustapha urged the Committee to ensure the provision of quality basic health services to the majority of Nigerians.

What the FG says

SGF indicated that preference would go to people living in rural areas and the vulnerable population. Others include women and children under five, as well as the elderly, regardless of their location in the country.

He added that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund was the Federal Government funding provision established under the National Health Act of 2014 (NHAct) for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the Nigeria.

“Years after the establishment of the Fund, millions of Nigerians in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT have yet to feel its impact, given several challenges and delays in its implementation.

“The Fund was established under the National Health Act of 2014 to increase overall funding for the health sector and to help improve access to primary health care services for all Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable.

“Specifically, the fund was to support the provision of a minimum set of basic health services to citizens; supply of essential drugs, vaccines and consumables to eligible primary health care facilities; provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for eligible primary health care facilities.

“Development of human resources for primary health care; and emergency medical situations, such as Ebola and COVID-19.

He also disclosed that disbursement from the Fund would be 50% for the provision of a minimum package of basic health services to citizens, through eligible primary or secondary health care facilities promoted under the scheme. National Health Insurance (NHIS), and added that 45% would be disbursed through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to be used for the following: 20% to provide medicines, vaccines and essential consumables to eligible primary health care facilities.

“While 15% will be for the provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for eligible primary health care facilities.

“10% for the development of human resources for primary health care, 5% of the fund to be used for emergency medical treatment to be administered by a committee appointed by the National Board of Health.,” he said.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the operationalization of the 2018/2019 budget of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) with an appropriation of 55.1 billion naira and that in 2020, 44.5 billion naira was reserved but revised to 25.5 billion naira (a drop of more than 42.5%) due to the shortfall caused by COVID-19 and the volatility of oil prices.

The SGF noted that the Finance Bill 2021 recently submitted to the National Assembly proposed the sum of N35.03 billion for the fund through statutory transfer.

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