The Federal Government says it has disbursed ₦249.6 billion to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) within three years of the President Bola Tinubu administration to improve access to essential healthcare services across the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja.
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Speaking on behalf of the Ministerial Oversight Committee, Dr Salako said the fund had supported the delivery of primary healthcare services, expanded health insurance coverage and strengthened maternal and newborn health interventions.
He explained that 8,309 primary healthcare centres had benefited from direct facility financing under the programme, aimed at improving service delivery and making essential healthcare more accessible to Nigerians.
The minister also disclosed that 3.18 million vulnerable Nigerians had received support through health insurance schemes funded by the BHCPF.
According to him, the fund has also facilitated 168,571 ambulance service episodes since 2023, while 96,068 women and babies have benefited from maternal and newborn health interventions.
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Dr Salako further revealed that attendance at primary healthcare facilities increased from 34.55 million in 2023 to 43.06 million by the second quarter of 2026, indicating increased utilisation of primary healthcare services.
He said the government was working to strengthen accountability mechanisms, expand the number of healthcare facilities covered by the programme and improve domestic financing for healthcare delivery.
The minister explained that the next phase of reforms would focus on ensuring that increased health investments translate into improved service delivery and better health outcomes for Nigerians.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is a key component of Nigeria’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage by improving access to essential health services, particularly for vulnerable populations.
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The programme also aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the country’s health system through improved financing, service delivery and accountability.
The Federal Government says sustained implementation of the fund will remain central to efforts to improve primary healthcare delivery and reduce financial barriers to accessing essential health services.