The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N40.76 billion under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the third quarter of 2026, an increase of N7.88 billion from the previous quarter.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this at the 16th meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) on the BHCPF.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the approval reflects the government’s commitment to providing quality, affordable and accessible healthcare to poor, vulnerable and underserved populations.
Pate said the funding aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
He explained that the approved amount would be disbursed through four funding gateways: the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which will receive N19.87 billion; the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), N18.34 billion; the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), N2.04 billion; and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), N509.48 million.
The minister also disclosed that monthly statutory releases into the fund had risen from approximately N8.95 billion to N13.08 billion, and subsequently to N20.43 billion.
He stressed that the increased funding must translate into timely disbursements, transparent financial management and improved health outcomes.
The committee also approved plans to extend health insurance coverage to approximately 90,000 inmates in correctional facilities nationwide through the NHIA.
“Implementation will be subject to regular reporting and safeguards, with inmates already covered by state schemes excluded,” the statement said.
To improve access to essential medicines, the MOC approved the implementation of changes to the NPHCDA funding gateway, including pooled procurement through MEDIPOOL, Nigeria’s national group purchasing organisation.
According to the statement, the arrangement will incorporate value-for-money safeguards, pricing benchmarks and supply-chain monitoring to enhance transparency, ensure quality and improve the reliability of medicine supplies.
Pate further disclosed that the government planned to expand BHCPF support from 8,309 to 13,521 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) nationwide.
The expansion will cover an additional 5,212 centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The committee further considered a phased financing model to support states in recruiting and progressively absorbing skilled birth attendants and community-based health workers,” Pate said.
To address delays in the release of funds, the MOC resolved to establish a subcommittee to investigate bottlenecks affecting the flow of money through the funding gateways, states and local government areas to health facilities.
The subcommittee is expected to submit its report within six weeks.
The committee also directed that letters be sent to state governors outlining the financial requirements needed by the NCDC to respond effectively to disease outbreaks.
On accountability, Pate said the Federal Government would collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor healthcare funding and prevent the misappropriation of resources.
The measures, he said, are intended to strengthen the management of the BHCPF, expand access to essential healthcare services and ensure that increased government spending delivers tangible benefits to Nigerians.
