Hope for a Healthier Nigeria as BHCPF 2.0 Ushers in New Era of Transparency, Accountability

In a bold move to overhaul Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, the Federal Government has launched the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2.0, a revolutionary framework designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and improved health outcomes nationwide. The initiative marks a decisive step toward a more efficient and effective healthcare system, where every naira spent translates into tangible health benefits for Nigerians. Writes MARY NNAH

For years, Nigeria’s healthcare system has struggled with corruption, inefficiency, and lack of transparency. But with the launch of BHCPF 2.0, the tide is turning. The new framework introduces stricter monitoring mechanisms, including the deployment of financial officers in every local government, civil society oversight, and digital expenditure tracking. This means that funds will be tracked in real-time, and any discrepancies will be quickly identified and addressed.

According to Dr. Oritseweyimi Ogbe, Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health’s Oversight Committee, the BHCPF 2.0 is a game-changer for Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“The BHCPF is the foundation for delivering affordable, quality healthcare to Nigerians,” Ogbe asserts. “With BHCPF 2.0, we are determined to ensure that the system works better, the money is traceable, and the people truly benefit”, he said during the launch of the new framework at the South-West zonal meeting held in Lagos recently.

The BHCPF 2.0 framework operates through four gateways: the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Health Insurance Agencies under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Emergency Medical Treatment gateway, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gateway. The fund supports primary healthcare, insurance for vulnerable groups, emergency response, and outbreak control, and is financed by not less than one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

One of the key features of BHCPF 2.0 is the emphasis on transparency and accountability. Disbursement details are now regularly published in national newspapers and on ministry websites, making it easier for citizens to track how funds are being utilised.

The government has also partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to enhance oversight and prevent misuse of funds.

The impact of BHCPF 2.0 is already being felt. In Lagos State, for example, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has hailed the framework as a “transformative framework” that streamlines governance, reduces bureaucratic delays, and accelerates facility upgrades. Lagos currently oversees 245 accredited Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), with ongoing efforts to expand access to more facilities and ensure quality healthcare for all residents.

“We have already seen significant improvements in our healthcare system since the launch of BHCPF 2.0,” Abayomi notes. “The framework has helped us to reduce bureaucratic delays, improve the quality of care, and increase access to healthcare services for our citizens. We are committed to ensuring that our healthcare system is responsive to the needs of our people.”

As Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator of SWAp, notes, “Every Nigerian who walks into a primary healthcare centre deserves care, dignity, and healing.” With BHCPF 2.0, the government is committed to ensuring that citizens receive the healthcare they deserve. The framework empowers citizens to monitor allocations and measure progress toward universal health coverage, signaling a new era of accountability in Nigeria’s health sector.

The launch of BHCPF 2.0 is a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria. With its focus on transparency, accountability for community participation, the new framework has the potential to transform the country’s healthcare system and improve the health outcomes of Nigerians. As the government moves forward with the implementation of BHCPF 2.0, it is expected that the healthcare sector will become more efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of citizens.

The BHCPF 2.0 framework has also been designed to ensure that healthcare funds are used for their intended purpose. The fund will support the upgrading of infrastructure, purchase of essential equipment, and training of health workers, ensuring that primary healthcare centres are equipped to provide quality healthcare services to citizens.

According to Ogbe, the government is committed to ensuring that the BHCPF 2.0 framework is implemented in a way that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of citizens. “We are determined to ensure that the healthcare system works better, and that the people truly benefit from the fund,” Ogbe emphasizes.

The government’s renewed focus on emergency preparedness and expanded insurance coverage also aligns with the 2022 NHIA Act, bolstering Nigeria’s healthcare resilience. The BHCPF 2.0 framework is expected to improve the country’s ability to respond to health emergencies, such as outbreaks and natural disasters, and ensure that citizens have access to quality healthcare services.

As Nigeria moves forward with the implementation of BHCPF 2.0, the healthcare sector is expected to become more efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of citizens. With its focus on transparency, accountability, and community participation, the new framework has the potential to transform the country’s healthcare system and improve the health outcomes of Nigerians.

The BHCPF 2.0 framework is a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria, and the government is committed to ensuring that the framework is implemented in a way that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of citizens.  As Dr. Ashiru Abubakar, Technical Assistant to the Coordinating Minister, aptly puts it, “The worst place for corruption to occur is in the health sector  – because there, it kills and maims.” With BHCPF 2.0, Nigeria’s healthcare system is poised to become a beacon of hope for the continent, where every citizen has access to quality, affordable healthcare.