FG, States Renew Push For Stronger Primary Healthcare As BHCPF Meeting Ends With Key Approvals
The Federal Government and state leaders have renewed their collective resolve to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria, as the 11th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) concluded in Abuja with a raft of critical approvals and forward-looking resolutions.
Addressing participants, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, celebrated a major milestone—over 37 million Nigerians now have access to health services through the BHCPF.
He attributed this success to the synergy between the federal, state, and local governments, as well as civil society, development partners, and the private sector.
“No single tier of government can tackle basic healthcare challenges alone, but together, we are making steady progress,” he said, reaffirming the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative in driving reforms.
Professor Pate also linked recent macroeconomic changes, such as the fuel subsidy removal and tax reforms, to long-term plans for sustainable healthcare financing.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, emphasised that the BHCPF is guided by transparency and inclusive governance. “The Oversight Committee brings everyone to the table—from sub-national actors to civil society—to ensure collective accountability,” he said.
From the states, Dr Oyebanji Filani, Chair of the Health Commissioners Forum, highlighted the impact of ₦32 billion disbursed so far in 2025.
Over 8,000 primary healthcare centres have benefited through renovations, equipment upgrades, staff training, and steady medicine supply.
The meeting ratified key funding approvals, including over ₦65 billion for BHCPF activities across the first three quarters of 2025.
Also adopted were the newly revised BHCPF Guidelines 2.0, which will take effect before the end of the third quarter.
Additionally, the rollout of the Mini District Health Information System (Mini-DHIS) will begin in July
