The National Council on Health (NCH) has approved the 2020
Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Guideline aimed at expanding the
fiscal space for health.
The spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Health, Olujimi
Oyetomi, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, described the BHCPF, enshrined in the National Health Act 2014, as an irrevocable testament of Nigeria’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage.
“It is a large-scale reform, aimed at expanding the fiscal
space for health and shifting financial resources to the frontlines of care.
“The BHCPF represents a sustainable model for ensuring
equity and financial risk protection for the nation’s vulnerable populations by
guaranteeing effective access to a basic minimum package of health services.
“It is funded from not less than one per cent of the
consolidated revenue fund, financial grants from local and international donor
partners, the private sector and philanthropic individuals.
“It is envisaged that the prudent application of the fund
will positively reverse the national health indices and place the country
firmly on the path to Universal Health Coverage,” the statement said.
It also said that the BCHPF had undergone processes which
allayed the earlier objections from the state governors who were not willing to
accommodate the health financing arrangement.
It added that the NCH meeting which approved the BHCPF was the second in the series of emergency meetings held virtually with Mr Ehanire presiding.
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