Enrollment for Basic Health Care Provision Fund, (BHCPF) Kicks Off In Osun

Nigeria took a great leap in her desire to provide basic health care to all citizens with the flag off of the enrollment of clients for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF, in Isale Agbara Public Health Centre, Osogbo Osun State yesterday zFriday, 3rd May, 2019.

The State of Osun is the first beneficiary in the country. This is out of readiness of the Osun team and their commitment. In coming days more states will follow.

Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health and many dignitaries graced the occasion.

The Governor expressed gratitude to the Presidency and all partners for the project. He promised commitment of the state to efficient utilization of the resources through state steering committee and health facilities in Osun.

With the flag off of, I see a new Nigeria where every pregnant woman is assured of being alive to see a live baby, every child born is assured of long healthy life and every one of us will age gracefully. Prof. Adewole the Minister of Health also said.

President Muhammadu Buhari rolled out the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) appropriated by the National Assembly in the 2018 budget.

The BHCPF is the one per cent of the federal government Consolidated Revenue and contributions from donor grants set aside to fund the basic health needs of Nigerians.

Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health said the roll out would start with six states, the first beneficiaries of the funds. The states include Osun, Abia, Niger, Yobe, Borno, and Edo.

The minister said a comprehensive manual has been designed for adequate implementation of the funds. He said apart from the money added in the 2018 budget, the ministry have received about $22 million to fund the BHCPF.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is also putting 50 million pounds over the next five year.

The BHCPF is the fundamental funding provision under the National Health Act but was only appropriated this year for the first time since the Act was signed in 2014.

When passing the 2018 budget in May, the National Assembly earmarked N55 billion for the BHCPF, as stipulated by the Act.

The fund is also envisaged to help reduce out of pocket spending on health care through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

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