NGF Seek Increased Funding For Basic Health Care

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have called for increased funding from the one per cent to three per cent for the basic health care provision in order to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Chairman, NGF and Governor of Sokoto state, made the call at a high level forum on SDGs panel discussion on the “Universal Coverage and the Basic Health Fund” on the sidelines of the 28th Nigerian Economic Summit.

Tambuwal said increased funding would ensure more Nigerians had access to health care services and reduce the burden of out of pocket expenses for health services.

He noted that inadequate funding and human resources, as well as insecurity were the bane for achieving effective implementation of the Basic Primary Health Care Fund ((BPHC) in the country.

Speaking on the proposed state contributory funding for health, Tambuwal assured that the issue would be presented at the next Economic Council meeting for deliberation and possible outcomes.

On her part, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed said a framework had been designed to monitor and ensure accountability in the disbursement and utilisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) by states and HMOs.

Also, Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Director and Secretary, Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), BHCPF, stressed the need to block leakages and institutionalize accountability, as well as increase contributory funding for BHCPF to 25 per cent by state governments.

Isokpunwu revealed that based on available statistics, one trillion naira was needed annually to effectively cover the basic health care of Nigerians.

On counter funding by state governments, Isokpunwu added “states need to demonstrate in their budgets that they have released an amount equivalent to 25 per cent of what we have disbursed to them for primary health care and social health insurance services.

“Any state that has met that condition will be seem to have complied with it and qualified for further disbursement,” he said.