The Crackdown on the BHCPF Due to Funding Shortfalls is a Worrying Trend that Requires Immediate Attention.
BY Ayeeshat J. Ahmad
The recent non released on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) has sparked widespread concern, particularly given the National Primary health care development Agency’s failure to realize funds for two quarters. The BHCPF is a critical program aimed at improving access to basic healthcare services for millions of Nigerians. affecting numerous health facilities across the country.
This was stated by Dr. Bashir Sharif, Kano State BHCPF Coordinator, during his presentation at the workshop on Desk-Based Analysis of Existing Related Accountability Framework for Health in Kano organised by kano led accountability mechanism KanSLAM.
According to Dr. Bashir Sharif, The lack of funding for the BHCPF poses a significant threat to the progress made in reducing maternal mortality rates in Nigeria. the funding shortfall has severe consequences for the healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Pulse Time Nigeria report that, Without adequate funding, Basic healthcare facilities may struggle to provide essential services, including prenatal care, delivery services, and postnatal care.
While contacting Pharmacist Maimuna Y. Muhammad, Co-chair of Kano-led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM), expressed concern about the impact of the funding shortfall on maternal mortality rates in the state and in Nigeria at large.
Adding that as the organization ensuring accountability in kano state their role is to follow up which they will very soon.
“We are going to follow up to see what’s really happening, most especially in this critical time of women dying on maternal mortality in the state,” she said.
However, the lack of funding for the BHCPF poses a significant threat to the progress made in reducing maternal mortality rates in Nigeria. According to data, the BHCPF has been instrumental in increasing access to healthcare services, particularly for women and children. The program’s impact on maternal mortality rates has been notable, with many states recording significant reductions in maternal deaths.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), a subset of the 2014 National Health Act (NHAct) can be described as the greatest single accomplishment of Nigeria’s quest to achieve health security for especially the poor and vulnerable citizens, necessary for attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Establishment of the BHCPF is provided for in Section 11 of the NHA with the major funding source for the BHCPF is the not less than 1% of the Consolidated Revenue of the Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), as statutorily provided for in the NHAct while the Fund’s major goal is ensuring adequate and sustainable funding that will be efficiently and equitably used to provide quality health services and ensure financial risk protection in access to health services for all Nigerians, particularly the poor and most vulnerable.
According to its operations manual, the BHCPF will support the effective delivery of primary healthcare services i.e ensure the provision of a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) and emergency medical treatment to all Nigerians. In specific terms, the major health priorities of the BHCPF are: Maternal, Reproductive, New-born, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH&N); Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs); as well as screening and emergency services for Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs)
The crackdown on the BHCPF due to funding shortfalls is a worrying trend that requires immediate attention. The national primary health care development Agency and the Federal Government must prioritize funding for the program to ensure the continuation of essential healthcare services and maintain progress in reducing maternal mortality rates.