The Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation (GCRCO) has welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of N12.9 billion for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), while emphasizing the need for prudent, transparent, and judicious utilization to address the basic healthcare needs of Nigerians.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the organization highlighted the importance of this funding, particularly given the current economic challenges facing Nigerians.
The BHCPF, established under Section 11 of the National Health Act, serves as catalytic funding to enhance access to primary healthcare across the nation.
Jamila Abdulrahman, Programs, Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion Manager at Grassroots Centre, emphasized the fund’s significance:
“With the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, healthcare is one of the critical areas, which has suffered. Millions of poor and impoverished Nigerians who can no longer afford their basic healthcare needs due to inflationary pressures, and cash crunch, will be well served if the agencies responsible implement the necessary programs through a system that is transparent, open and ensures prudence.”
The Explainer learned, the fund operates through three key agencies: the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the National Emergency Medical Treatment (NEMT).
These organizations are tasked with implementing various healthcare initiatives, including insurance coverage for vulnerable populations and emergency ambulance services.
The approval, granted during the eighth meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), comes at a crucial time when several states are battling disease outbreaks, particularly cholera, and facing challenges with maternal and child mortality.
However, the organization pointed out several historical challenges that have hampered the BHCPF’s effectiveness, including: Delayed release of funds, poor data management, corruption, inadequate preparedness at the Local Government level.
In response to these challenges, Grassroots Centre has called for stronger partnerships between government entities and civil society organizations. The organization emphasized the importance of citizen participation in healthcare decision-making at the local level.
The Centre also stressed the need for expanding coverage of over 50 interventions in its Basic Minimum Package of Health Services, including: Antenatal care, labor and delivery services, infant and child healthcare.
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The organization has called for a comprehensive evaluation process to measure the fund’s impact against World Health Organization’s Universal Health Coverage standards and Sustainable Development Goals targets.
