The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N25 billion from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to enhance the delivery of health services to the vulnerable population.
The money which is meant to provide healthcare services at the grassroots level as well as health insurance for the vulnerable segment of society will be channeled through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof Muhammad Ali Pate said that the Federal Government met with health sector agencies, state commissioners of Health and development partners and took a few decisions that are important in advancing the administration’s aspirations to expand the primary healthcare and social outcomes.
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“One of 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 BHCPF channels to the states of the Federation through the gateways – the NPHCDA and NHIA gateways.
“This is to provide them direct them with direct 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 the vulnerable population.”
Also, the Executive Director of the 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 a 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 NHIA for the protection of vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
