BHCPF: FG launches
BHCPF: FG launches N1.08b healthcare fund in
Abia
The Federal Government has launched Basic Health Care Provision
Fund (BHCPF) also known as HUWE, in Abia State.
Speaking at the ceremony, held recently at Apumiri Ubakala
Primary Health Centre, Umuahia South Local Government Area, in Abia
State, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said that
rolling out the programme was the climax of all Government’s
efforts geared towards improving access to quality and affordable
healthcare to all Nigerians.
Prof.Adewole noted that Abia State was entitled to benefit basic
health care services worth N1.08 billion in the next nine
months.
He informed that ‘’ the amount is equivalent to the medical
bills of 635,000 women with normal deliveries, 1.8 million under
5-childhood illnesses or over 1.3 million cases of malaria; in
addition to 332 public-sector facilities that would become truly
functional as a result of the programme’’
He further said that ‘’the fund will provide direct response to
issues of inequality in access to quality primary healthcare
services, and also eliminate out-of-the- pocket expenses for
primary health care services.’’
The Minister added that ‘“Surprisingly, 70 percent of total
healthcare expenditure in Nigeria is borne out of the pocket. This
is far higher than the globally-acceptable rate of 30-40 percent,
and remains a barrier to accessing health care.’’
He stressed that ‘’the Federal government is committed to
reversing the ugly situation and promoting shared prosperity
especially in medical services.”
He also assured that the launch of the programme in Abia State
would open the space for more people to benefit from basic
healthcare services being delivered at the Primary Healthcare
Centres (PHCs).
He explained that the programme would be financially sustained
through a certain percentage of the consolidated revenue fund of
the federation as stipulated in the National Health Act, 2014. “Our
target is one primary healthcare centre, per ward, as identified by
States, based on defined criteria with operational budgets to
enable the facilities improve service delivery,” he added.
Prof. Adewole informed that Government had disbursed the sum of
N12 billion to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency
(NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) accounts;
stressing that, the NHIS would in turn send the resources to the
accounts of the 23 States and FCT who had indicated interest in the
program.
In his address, the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie
Victor Ikpeazu , said that ‘’Government has promised to reimburse
accredited private facilities that delivered specified services
which include: ante-natal care, childbirth including Caesarean
sections, family planning, treatment of childhood under-five
illnesses, malaria treatment for all and screening for
non-communicable diseases.”
In his welcome address , the Commissioner of Health, Abia State,
Dr. John Ahukannah, said that ‘’BHCPF is structured in a way that
the fund, which is direct facility funding mechanism, will address
issues of maintenance of facility and equipment, provision of drugs
and consumables and Capacity building.’
He also said that ‘’the programme targets the vulnerable groups
,women and children and the scheme will reduce out of pockets
expenses in accessing healthcare’’
In his Goodwill Message, the Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr.
Faisal Shuaib, who was represented by South East Zonal Director,
Dr. Eric Nwaze, said that ’”the Primary Healthcare Facilities are
integral part of the Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and are
usually the first point of call for provision of essential medical
services for majority of Nigerians.’’
There are over 30,000 public PHCs spread across the States and
744 Local Government Areas of the federation, Dr. Shuaib added.
Mrs. Boade Akinola
Director, Media and PR