By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerians battling HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria continue to receive essential medical care.
This assurance came from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, during the 10th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The government recently approved a ₦4.8 billion intervention fund for procuring 150,000 HIV treatments and secured a $22 million grant from the U.S. government to support TB case-finding efforts. Additionally, ₦32 billion has been disbursed to strengthen primary healthcare services, emergency medical treatment, and disease control nationwide.
Imminent Shortage of Medical Supplies
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Professor Pate, as the chairman of MOC dismissed concerns about a looming stock-out of HIV and TB treatment supplies, as suggested by external agencies.
“Our analysis shows that there is no imminent stock-out. We are moving towards direct and emergency procurement, utilizing our available resources efficiently. While international organizations raise alarms, they may not fully understand our local context and ongoing government efforts,” he said.
He reassured Nigerians that treatment will continue uninterrupted and emphasized the government’s push for self-sufficiency in medical procurement.
“We are doubling efforts to procure medicines quickly, even from countries with similar contexts to ours. While external funding remains significant, we are working towards using more of our own resources to ensure sustainability.”
₦32 Billion Approved for Primary Healthcare and Disease Control
Professor Pate announced that the ₦32 billion disbursement under the BHCPF will support:
Primary healthcare services expansion across 8,000+ facilities
The Vulnerable Group Fund to improve access to affordable healthcare for women and children
Emergency medical treatment and ambulance services
Disease control through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
“Health security is crucial. We must prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks. This funding will ensure we are prepared,” he stated.
“Additionally, a revised BHCPF guideline has been approved, introducing stronger equity measures and increased primary healthcare funding,” coordinating minister said.
Governance Bottlenecks and Solutions
The minister acknowledged delays in fund disbursement due to challenges at the state level, particularly in opening Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) required for accessing federal health funds. However, he expressed confidence that the new Attorney General of the Federation would resolve these issues swiftly.
“These funds are federal government resources but are channeled through state TSA accounts, which must be properly set up. We are working to expedite the process,” he assured.
Strengthening Accountability and Transparency
Professor Pate emphasized accountability in fund utilization, stating that all BHCPF financial flows would be publicly available on the BHCPF website.
“We call on civil society organizations and local stakeholders to monitor fund usage. Independent verification agents and financial monitoring officers are being deployed to ensure transparency,” he said.
Key Resolutions from the 10th MOC Meeting
The meeting resulted in several key resolutions:
1. Increased Local Government Involvement – State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDA) will continue managing Primary Health Centers (PHCs), but Local Government Chairpersons will have more oversight.
2. Fund Disbursement Structure – Funds will flow from the SPHCDA to PHCs, with final approval from Local Government Chairpersons based on collective work plans.
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3. Legal Clarifications on Governance – The Attorney General’s input will guide adjustments to governance structures in the BHCPF guidelines.
4. Approval of Disbursement Memo – A new disbursement plan was approved with no objections under the updated guidelines.
Moving forward, Professor Pate reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare governance, affordability, and accessibility. He encouraged all stakeholders, including state governments, civil society organizations, and international partners, to collaborate in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The work is already underway, not just planned. We are determined to ensure that every Nigerian who needs treatment receives it, whether for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, or maternal care,” he added.
