10 Million Nigerians Access PHC Services In A Year: FG Reports

The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that over 10 million Nigerians have benefited from essential services provided by Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) nationwide in the past year.

This announcement was made by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, during the 9th Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting held in Abuja.

Key Achievements in Healthcare

Improved Birth Care:
The report highlighted a notable increase in the availability of skilled birth attendants, enhancing maternal and child health outcomes.
Health Insurance Expansion:
Around 2.4 million additional Nigerians were covered by health insurance in the past year, increasing the total number of insured citizens to 19.6 million.
Accountability and Transparency:
Prof. Pate stressed the importance of transparency in the allocation and use of health funds. He encouraged citizens to monitor health sector investments and report any issues faced while accessing care at PHCs. “Our focus is to ensure every disbursed penny directly benefits the poorest and most vulnerable populations,” Pate said.

Challenges in Health Insurance

Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), pointed out key challenges in the health insurance system:

Low Awareness: Many Nigerians remain unaware of available health insurance programs.
Rising Drug Costs: This has made accessing care more challenging, especially for retirees and the elderly.

To address these issues, the NHIA introduced the GIFSHIP system, designed to ensure continuous healthcare access for retirees through designated enrollment centers.

“Healthcare costs rise as people age, so premium adjustments are essential for sustainable coverage,” said Dr. Ohiri.

Future Outlook

With the unveiling of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative by the President, Nigeria’s healthcare system is on a progressive path. However, Prof. Pate stressed that maintaining these efforts beyond 2025 will be critical to sustaining the current momentum.

The government remains committed to financial protection, ensuring the healthcare system evolves to meet the needs of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.