By Fatima Saka
Abuja — Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector, including lawmakers, policy experts, and civil society leaders, have called for the urgent conclusion of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) amendment process, stressing that the proposed increase from 1 per cent to 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund is vital to strengthening primary healthcare delivery.
The bill which currently at the House of Representative for Concurrent after been passed by the Senate.
The call was made on monday in Abuja, at a multistakeholder dialogue convened by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) in collaboration with the Senate Committee on Health, under the theme “Turning Health Bills into Health Gains.”
Speaking at the event, Mrs Rosemary Udomah, representatives of the Senate Committee on Health emphasized the importance of concluding the legislative concurrence process within the 10th National Assembly, noting that timely passage of the amendment would significantly boost funding for essential health services.
Also speaking, Mrs Chika Offor, the Executive Director of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) highlighted that the amendment is critical to improving immunization coverage, maternal and child health outcomes, and access to basic healthcare services, particularly for underserved and zero-dose populations.
The dialogue, supported by the Partnership to Reach Zero-Dose Children (PREACH) Project funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance through the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), brought together Senior Legislative Aides, administrative clerks of the National Assembly, government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and media practitioners.
Participants noted that Nigeria’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) depends largely on sustainable domestic financing, with the BHCPF serving as a key funding mechanism for primary healthcare.
During panel discussions, development partners and health financing experts stressed the need for stronger coordination between lawmakers and stakeholders to remove bottlenecks delaying the amendment process.
Civil society organisations at the meeting also called for increased accountability and transparency in the implementation of the BHCPF to ensure that additional funding translates into measurable health outcomes.
The dialogue featured technical presentations and plenary sessions aimed at reviewing the current status of the amendment and identifying actionable steps to expedite its passage.
Stakeholders agreed that doubling the BHCPF allocation would enhance service delivery at primary healthcare centres nationwide and improve access to life-saving interventions.
They further stressed that the successful passage of the amendment would mark a significant step toward translating legislative commitments into tangible health gains for millions of Nigerians.
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The PREACH Project, implemented by VNDC, continues to advocate for sustainable immunization financing and equitable access to healthcare, particularly for children who have not received routine vaccines.
VNDC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies and partnerships that strengthen Nigeria’s health system and ensure no community is left behind.
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