The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of 6.5 billion as the first phase of Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF) to fifteen States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The disbursement was flagged off by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health, Olorunimbe Mamora and Executive Director of National Health Insurance Scheme, Mohammed Sambo.
The BHCPF would be administered through three gateways to include the National Health Care Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA)and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH).
A breakdown of the funds shows that Kano gets the highest with Kano N948 million while Lagos gets N672 million, FCT N118 million, Edo N301 million, Kastina N636 million, Yobe N270 million, Delta N394 million, Adamawa N342 million, Anambra N338, Imo N301 million, Kaduna N552 million, Bauchi N530 million, Bayelsa N116 million, Ebonyi N230 million, Oyo N449 million and Plateau gets N337 million .
The health minister said the 15 states and FCT are benefitting from the first tranche because they had satisfied the eligibility criteria as atvFebruary 2019.
“It is our plan and desire that this fund will be judiciously utilised by the benefiting states which will in turn reduce the hardship experienced by many Nigerians who daily pay through out of pocket as a result of ill health”, Ehinare said.
In the NHIS gateway, the scheme through the State Health Insurance Schemes will purchase a Basic Minimum Package of Healthcare Services for all participating Nigerians.
Godsgift Onyedinefu, Abuja
