Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate
The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N32 billion to health facilities across the country under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), in a move aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this while addressing journalists after a Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting held to assess progress in the health sector.
According to Pate, the quarterly meeting reviewed key indicators such as healthcare utilisation, mortality rates, and immunisation coverage, noting that funds released through the BHCPF are already reaching facilities nationwide.
Expansion of Beneficiary Health Facilities
The minister revealed plans to expand the number of health centres benefiting from direct funding, with an additional 5,000 facilities expected to be included soon. This, he said, is part of ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s health sector renewal initiative.
He emphasised that reforms approved last year are already being implemented, with steady progress recorded across multiple areas of the healthcare system.
Free Maternal Care Saving Lives
Pate highlighted the impact of government interventions in maternal health, stating that over 40,000 women have benefited from free treatment for emergency obstetric complications. The policy, introduced by the Tinubu administration, has significantly reduced the financial burden on families and improved access to life-saving care.
He also disclosed that more than 4,000 women have received treatment under the free fistula programme, helping them regain their health and dignity.
Improved Emergency Response and Disease Control
The government also reviewed and approved increased tariffs for emergency ambulance services to encourage both public and private providers to respond more effectively during critical situations.
On disease outbreaks, Pate revealed that Nigeria recorded over 200 outbreak incidents in the past year, most of which were successfully contained early through surveillance and rapid response efforts led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
He urged state governments to strengthen their response mechanisms and prioritise the safety of healthcare workers.
Mass Immunisation Milestone
In a major public health achievement, the minister announced that over 102 million children were reached during the recent measles and rubella immunisation campaign—one of the largest of its kind in Nigeria’s history.
Call for Transparency and Accountability
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, stressed the importance of transparency in managing public health funds. He noted that civil society organisations would play a key role in monitoring fund utilisation at the facility level to ensure accountability.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Health System
The BHCPF, established under the National Health Act of 2014, is designed to support Universal Health Coverage by funding essential health services. It is financed through government allocations, donor support, and private sector contributions.
With the latest N32 billion disbursement, the Federal Government aims to improve access to quality healthcare, enhance service delivery, and strengthen the overall resilience of Nigeria’s health system.
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