ABUJA – The Federal Government, through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has disbursed N63 billion to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) since its inception in 2019.
This was revealed during a media engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, where NHIA officials highlighted the program’s progress and ongoing challenges.
The BHCPF, a key component of Nigeria’s National Health Act, aims to ensure universal access to basic healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations. The fund is sourced from federal revenue and donor contributions, and is administered through various gateways, including the NHIA, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
According to NHIA, all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, have established State Social Insurance Agencies. The agency has disbursed funds to over 8,200 healthcare facilities nationwide, benefiting approximately 160,000 citizens. However, the utilization rate remains at a modest 15 percent.
Despite the progress, experts have raised concerns about the adequacy and equity of healthcare financing in Nigeria. Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), an initiative aimed at improving the health sector, highlighted the low allocation of resources to healthcare.
“Currently, only 3 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product is allocated to healthcare, with just 40-69 percent of the federal budget for health being utilized effectively,” he stated.
Umar-Sadiq also criticized the quality of health data in the country, pointing to discrepancies in reported immunization rates. He emphasized the need for a unified, transparent, and accountable healthcare system, working in coordination across all levels of government and with development partners.
The BHCPF, while a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage, faces challenges in ensuring equitable access and efficient utilization of funds. The government’s commitment to increasing healthcare funding and strengthening data collection and analysis will be crucial in achieving the program’s objectives.
