By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has been described as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s healthcare reform, with stakeholders urging the swift completion of its amendment to improve access to quality services and reduce the financial burden on citizens.
Clerk of the Senate Committee on Health (Tertiary and Secondary), Mrs Rosemary Udomah, made this known on Monday in Abuja at a multi-stakeholder dialogue focused on accelerating progress in the health sector.
She stressed that the BHCPF, established under the National Health Act, remains central to expanding healthcare access, particularly at the primary and secondary levels, while protecting vulnerable populations from high out-of-pocket expenses.
“The BHCPF remains one of the most significant instruments for strengthening healthcare delivery. Its successful implementation is critical to improving access to quality healthcare services and reducing the financial burden on Nigerians,” Udomah said.
She reaffirmed the Senate Committee’s commitment to supporting policies that promote accountability, efficiency, and improved health outcomes nationwide.
The dialogue was convened by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control under the Partnership to Reach Zero-Dose Children (PREACH) project, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance through the Global Health Advocacy Initiative (GHAI).
Themed “Turning Health Bills into Health Gains,” the engagement brought together lawmakers, National Assembly officials, civil society organisations, government agencies, and development partners to assess progress on the BHCPF amendment and outline steps for its timely conclusion.
Stakeholders at the meeting renewed calls for urgent action, warning that delays could undermine ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare system and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Chief Executive Officer of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, Mrs Chika Offor, said civil society organisations have intensified advocacy for the finalisation and presidential assent of the amendment bill.
She described the proposed legislation as a catalytic reform aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s struggling primary healthcare system and strengthening epidemic preparedness amid rising global health threats.
“Many primary health centres still lack adequate infrastructure, essential medicines, and sufficient human resources. This bill is designed to ensure these facilities function effectively,” Offor said.
She added that the reform would expand access to health insurance for low-income populations and reduce catastrophic health spending.
“What we are discussing here is about life. Nigerians are already burdened by poverty, and adding health challenges creates a cycle that must be broken,” she said.
Providing an update on the legislative process, Mr Akpevwe Dariese of the National Assembly Bills Department disclosed that the amendment bill has passed first, second, and third readings in the Senate after extensive deliberations.
He noted that the bill also underwent a public hearing with broad stakeholder participation and consensus on its necessity.
“The committee’s report has been adopted on the Senate floor. The next stage is harmonisation between the Senate and the House of Representatives before transmission to the President for assent,” Dariese explained.
He, however, cautioned that the harmonisation stage may involve clause-by-clause scrutiny and possible adjustments before final approval.
In a related document, the Vaccine Network for Disease Control noted that the dialogue forms part of broader efforts to strengthen collaboration across health governance institutions and fast-track the amendment process.
Stakeholders reiterated that effective implementation of the BHCPF, alongside the timely passage of the amendment bill, is critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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Meanwhile, the Senate recently passed the Customs, Excise Tariff, etc. (Consolidation) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB.713), sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, as part of broader efforts to boost domestic health financing and address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The reform is expected to support sustainable funding and enhance long-term resilience in Nigeria’s health sector.
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