The Federal Government has announced that approximately 10 million Nigerians have received critical services at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country in the past year.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, made the disclosure during the 9th Basic Health Care Provision Fund Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting in Abuja.
He noted that the country has seen an increase in skilled birth attendants, with about 2.4 million Nigerians covered by health insurance in the past year alone, bringing the total number of insured Nigerians to 19.6 million.
Pate emphasised that ensuring transparency and accountability in fund utilisation is crucial for delivering quality primary healthcare services to the most vulnerable populations. He urged Nigerians to track investments in the health sector and report any challenges encountered in accessing healthcare services at the primary healthcare centres, whether at local government or state levels.
“The goal is to ensure that every penny disbursed reaches the poorest and most vulnerable, enabling them to receive the quality primary healthcare they need. We are witnessing increased financial protection, and Nigeria’s healthcare system is advancing. The Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, unveiled by the President, is a significant step forward.
While these are early stages, sustaining these efforts beyond 2025 is crucial,” Pate said. Also speaking, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), identified low awareness and rising drug costs as additional challenges facing health insurance in Nigeria. He revealed that the NHIA is working on solutions to ensure that health insurance coverage continues without interruption after retirement. The NHIA has introduced the GIFSHIP system, which allows retirees to register at designated enrolment centres to ensure continuity in healthcare access.
“We’re focusing on those already enrolled. Reaching retirement age shouldn’t disrupt their healthcare coverage. As people age, healthcare costs increase, requiring adjustments to premiums to reflect this reality,” Ohiri said.
