Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The federal government has approved the disbursement of N25 billion from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to enhance delivery of health services to the vulnerable population.
The money which is meant to provide healthcare services at the grassroots level as well health insurance for the vulnerable segment of the society will be channeled through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Speaking to journalists shortly after inaugurating seven technical working committees, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, said: “We met with health sector agencies, state commissioners of health and development partners and we took a few decisions that are important in advancing our aspirations to expand the primary health care and social outcomes. One them is to inaugurate seven technical working groups on various thematic areas that affect what we do in the Ministry of Health.
“Secondly, we approved the disbursement of N25 billion through the PHCPF channels to the states of the federation through the gateways – the NPHCDA and NHIA gateways.
“This is to provide them directly with facility financing as well as resources to be able to satisfy their own workforce and for the NHIA to be able to provide financial protection for vulnerable population”.
While giving more insights on the purpose of the fund, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, said that part of the N25.8 billion will be subsequently disbursed to the states so that they can use it to provide facilities at the primary health care centres.
According to him, the fund will be disbursed through centralized financing mechanism and will focus on areas of special needs to provide health services.
He also said that the funds will be disbursed to the National Health Insurance Agency for the protection of vulnerable population.
