Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has said that more than 10 million Nigerians accessed healthcare services through primary healthcare centres funded by the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) over the past year.
The minister stated this at the 9th meeting of the Oversight Ministerial Committee on Basic Healthcare Provision Fund ( BHCPF), in Abuja.
The achievement is part of broader reforms under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched a year ago to expand access to primary healthcare services across the country.
“We’ve seen more than 10 million Nigerians receive critical services in this primary healthcare centers over the last one year. More than 2.4 million Nigerians have been newly enrolled in health insurance, bringing the total number of insured citizens to 18.6 million,” the minister stated.
He emphasised that effective utilisation of the BHCPF has been instrumental in providing financial protection for vulnerable populations while ensuring resources reach intended beneficiaries.
“Through the states, we are improving governance and ensuring every penny disbursed goes to the poorest and most vulnerable people to access quality primary healthcare,” he said.
Prof. Pate urged citizens to monitor and flag issues at primary healthcare centres to ensure accountability. “We call on Nigerians to track resources in CPF-funded facilities and report any discrepancies at the local government or state levels,” the minister added.
Looking ahead, the minister expressed confidence in further advancements, stating that, “This is just the beginning. We are confident that with sustained efforts, more will be achieved in 2025 and beyond.”
