UHC: Tinubu unveils plan for investments in health sector

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that his administration is prioritizing Nigeria’s health through massive investments and allocation of increased funds to the sector which is on the front burner in the proposed 2024 budget.

The President made the declaration at the unveiling of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the signing of the Health Renewal Compact by Federal and state Governments, and Development Partners which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Specifically under the initiative, the government is targeting about $2.5 billion in pooled and non-pooled financing between 2024-2026, to be mobilized and channeled to improve the primary health system and achieve results.

The amount represents contributions from external development partners and the Federal Government, while it is expected that State
Governments, where primary health is delivered, will also contribute to the efforts.

The event was part of activities marking Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, observed annually on December 12.

Tinubu said, “Delivering improved quality health is an underpinning factor in my promise of Renewed Hope to Nigerians. That hope is ignited here today with the support of all multilateral partners and agencies; health is back on the front burner.

“This occasion marks an opportunity for collective reflection and action as we recommit ourselves to the noble pursuit of health for all. The theme for this year ‘Health for All: Time for Action’ encapsulates the urgency and the determination with which we must approach this noble goal.

“Health is not merely the absence of disease but the embodiment of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is a fundamental human right and Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Care Coverage is reflected in the unwavering dedication of my administration to uphold this right for every individual, young or old, in rural or urban areas,” the President said.

Noting the importance of primary healthcare in building a resilient, integrated healthcare system, President Tinubu announced plans for a comprehensive revamp of physical infrastructure, equipment, and the re-training of frontline health workers starting from 2024.

To address the high cost of healthcare, President Tinubu said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) will be redesigned to enhance access to essential healthcare services as outlined in the National Health Act (2014).

The President emphasized the coordination and implementation of these initiatives must be non-partisan.

Earlier, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate said that the Health Sector Renewal, is a bold effort, a historic window of opportunity, and a call to action, to reform and implement the National Health System as provided for in the National Health Act.

Pate observed that the Sector-Wide Compact is based on our collective recognition that, health is one of the keys to human capital accumulation; and a healthy, economically productive population, growing at a sustainable pace, supported by a health system that caters for all, is essential to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

He said, “We recognize that, the challenges to achieving our national health objectives include constrained governance systems and strucfures, with limited accountability, inadequate, inefficient , and inequitable health care financing, shortage, and mal distribution of human resources for health, limited availability of quality health commodities, insufficient citizens’ and community engagement,and hyper fragmented, poorly coordinated external development assistance”.

‘By signing the Compact today, and we arc agreeing to align our ob.jectives with the priorities articulated in the Renewed Hope Health Sector Blueprint’s pillars to improve governance, accountability to our citizens, focus on reversing high maternal,newborn, and chilC diseases and deaths, unlocking the health care value chain through State-directed medical industrialization in partnership with the private sector, and enhancing Nigeria’s resilience and health security. We will be adopting a more coordinated approach between Federal Government, State Governments, F CT, and all Development Pafiners, to achieving the desired improvement in the health of all Nigerians at scale.”

The minister stated that the government expect to double the number of fully functional Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) receiving Decentralized Facility Financing for infrastructural upgrades, and operational costs from the existing 8,809 fully functional and gradually increase to 17,618 PHCs by 2027 in all 36 States and the FCT to ensure delivery of high quality essential Primary Health Care package.

He said, “We will link each of the PHCs in this effort to a Secondary Care facility providing Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care and to referral system by progressive development of a National Emergency and Medical Ambulance System.

“We will refine the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF) under the National Health Insurance Authority, working the States, optimizing risk pools to strategically purchase highest impact benefit package to improve health outcomes with a focus on financial protection.”

Pate noted that the Federal Government will move Nigeria closer towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by gradually expanding health insurance coverage, ensuring healthy and viable risk pools, through more effectively governance, and establishing an enabling environment for better public and private sector collaboration.