Federal Government Strengthens Primary Healthcare Facilities With N32bn

The federal government has approved the disbursement of N32 billion to boost primary health care (PHC) facilities nationwide under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

The approval was granted during the 14th meeting, the first for 2026, of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) on BHCPF, held in Abuja.

The BHCPF serves as a key national financing mechanism, providing predictable funding, reducing out-of-pocket payments and expanding access to quality healthcare, especially for vulnerable Nigerians.

At the meeting, the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said, “Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are deliberately aligning financing with outcomes. BHCPF 2.0 ensures that resources translate into real improvements in service delivery, particularly at the primary healthcare level where most Nigerians access care.”

Similarly, the minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, noted that “This is about outcomes Nigerians can see and feel — safer deliveries, improved emergency response, and functional primary healthcare centres.”

After the meeting, Prof. Pate told journalists that the health sector continues to record progress under the current administration.

“What we have seen is a continuation of progress across multiple dimensions of primary healthcare in utilisation, maternal mortality, immunisation, and the resources disbursed through BHCPF are getting to the facilities,” he said.

He added that the newly approved funds would be released based on guidelines adopted last year, and reaffirmed government’s plan to expand direct facility financing to an additional 5,000 PHCs.

Pate further disclosed that the committee reviewed proposed increases in ambulance tariff rates to ensure fair compensation for public and private providers. He also noted the growing impact of President Tinubu’s directive, making emergency obstetric care free.

He said over 40,000 women have already benefited from reimbursed emergency services, adding that the free fistula repair programme has reached more than 4,000 women, while reimbursement for neonatal care has begun.

“The Comprehensive Emergency Management of Obstetric Services is doing very well,” he said.

The minister highlighted improved outcomes in maternal and child health, strengthened outbreak response, with more than 200 incidents contained in the past year, and significant achievements in immunisation, including vaccinating over 102 million children during last year’s integrated measles and rubella campaign.

During the meeting, gateway agencies, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), presented updates on ongoing implementation.

Representatives from Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and civil society organisations also shared field reports, highlighting progress in service delivery, public health response, and financial protection for citizens as Nigeria advances towards Universal Health Coverage.

A major agenda item was the ongoing rollout of BHCPF 2.0 under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), which aligns financing, accountability, and service delivery with the goals of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

The committee reviewed several priority interventions, including: MAMII,- a data-driven initiative targeting reductions in maternal and newborn mortality, HOPE PHC – aimed at improving service readiness, workforce capacity, and PHC performance.

Others include National Health Fellows Programme (NHF) – focused on strengthening leadership, accountability, and delivery within the health system.

Progress on the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) and other maternal and child health indicators was also evaluated.