The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of ₦32.9 billion under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) new guideline, Guideline 2.0, to strengthen Primary Health Care services across the country.
The funds, which will be disbursed by the end of October 2025 across all implementation gateways including the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), among others, aim to improve health outcomes through performance-based implementation, transparency, and accountability in managing health funds.
Speaking at the 12th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) Meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health systems, expanding access to quality care, and achieving Universal Health Coverage through sustained reforms and partnership-driven implementation.
He observed that the BHCPF aims to ensure sustainable funding for primary health care and guarantee access to quality essential health services for all Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
The minister, who unveiled the Universal Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2.0 Revised Guideline—an important tool for improving accountability and efficiency in health financing—highlighted the need to strengthen Oversight and Transparency in the health sector through MOC reforms.
Key resolutions from the meeting include the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) initiating an end-to-end digital platform within two weeks to enhance emergency response efficiency and reporting. Additionally, State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) are tasked with establishing mechanisms to track claims processing within two weeks and report progress at the next MOC meeting.
Furthermore, the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the states have been instructed to identify and document implementation bottlenecks. The Coordinating Minister will engage the respective governors to address these challenges.
To ensure beneficiary data integrity, the states are required to submit the list of beneficiaries and their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to NHIA by the end of December 2025. Meanwhile, the DHSS is to collaborate with Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) to ensure timely reporting of disease outbreaks through public health systems, with NCDC providing technical support.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is a vital component of Nigeria’s healthcare system, established under Section 11 of the National Health Act (NHAct) 2014. Its primary goal is to support the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) and enhance the overall financing of the health sector.
BHCPF is funded through diverse channels, including:
Federal Government Grant: An annual grant from the Federal Government of Nigeria, constituting at least one per cent (one per cent) of its Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
International Donor Partners: Grants from international donor partners contribute significantly to BHCPF funding.
Private Sector and Other Sources: BHCPF welcomes contributions from the private sector and other funding sources to augment its resources and impact.
