World Health Organisation (WHO) Logo

The Nigerian government has announced plans to scale up investments in the country’s healthcare sector by doubling the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and expanding access to health insurance for millions of citizens.

Speaking on government’s ongoing reforms, the Minister of Health revealed that the federal administration has consistently sustained the BHCPF despite fiscal challenges and has made emergency allocations to cushion the impact of dwindling foreign aid to the health sector.

Doubling BHCPF Funding

Currently, the BHCPF is funded with one per cent of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue. The government is now considering legislation that would increase this allocation to two per cent. If approved, this move could significantly strengthen the delivery of primary health care across the country, ensuring that rural communities and underserved populations gain access to essential services.

The BHCPF was established to provide a steady flow of resources for primary healthcare facilities, essential drugs, vaccines, and human resources for health. Experts believe that doubling its funding will reduce Nigeria’s overreliance on donor support and strengthen the country’s health system resilience.

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage

In addition to financing reforms, the government has set an ambitious target of enrolling 44 million Nigerians into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by 2030. This initiative is aimed at accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), reducing out-of-pocket expenditure, and protecting families from the financial burden of healthcare costs.

Towards Universal Health Coverage

Stakeholders in the health sector have welcomed the development, stressing that strong political will and consistent implementation will be crucial to achieving the ambitious targets. Increased funding for BHCPF, alongside the expansion of health insurance coverage, is seen as a major step toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which emphasizes good health and well-being for all.

If implemented effectively, these reforms could transform Nigeria’s health system, improve service delivery, and reduce the inequalities that have long plagued access to quality healthcare.