The Management Oversight Committee (MOC) announced reforms aimed at enhancing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) during its eighth meeting held in Abuja. These reforms, led by a sub-committee established at the fifth MOC meeting in 2023, include a comprehensive review of the BHCPF guidelines, reforms to the operational framework, and an effort to strengthen governance structures.
At the meeting, the committee emphasized that the ongoing reforms align with Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative and have received the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a sector-wide approach. The MOC also approved the allocation of N12.911 billion from the BHCPF to four health agencies for the fourth quarter of 2024. The agencies benefiting from this disbursement include 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).
During the eighth MOC meeting, members reviewed and approved memos related to the revised BHCPF 2.0 guidelines, the accountability framework, and funding for the fourth quarter of the 2023 financial year. The committee plans to reconvene in mid-December to allocate funds for the first quarter of 2025.
The revised BHCPF 2.0 guidelines were accepted with provisions for future amendments. “We will conduct further consultations with gateways and sub-national stakeholders to ensure alignment with the Sector-Wide Approach. The Accountability Framework has been adopted by the MOC and will be refined as implementation progresses,” the MOC stated.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, spoke during the meeting about the ongoing training for integrated healthcare workers. He noted that the initiative has reached 120,000 permanent health workers, with 40,000 already trained, and more training sessions planned.
Additionally, he mentioned that 2.4 million new enrollees have been added to the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF) over the past year, which will enhance their access to healthcare. “While some states, like Anambra, are performing well, others are still catching up, but we are all on this journey together with the federal government and the states,” he remarked.
Prof. Pate also highlighted the federal government’s commitment to addressing maternal mortality and improving child health outcomes in Nigeria. “One of the remarkable initiatives of this administration is ensuring that women suffering from obstetric fistula receive affordable repairs,” he added.
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