‘It’ll guarantee access to essential medicines’: Senate raises Basic Health Care Fund to 2%

The Senate on Thursday approved the increased funding for Nigeria’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), raising it to two per cent of consolidated revenue.

This step aims to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria.

The approval was sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) on “National Health Act (amendment) Bill, 2026.

Presenting the report, the chairperson of the Committee, Ipalibo Banigo, who also sponsored the bill, recalled that it was read for the second time on October 22, 2025.

Banigo said the bill sought to amend the National Health Act. No. 8, 2014 for the purpose of increasing the BHCPF from one per cent to two percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

She stated: “Primary healthcare is the bedrock of any strong health system. It is where mothers give birth, children are immunised and diseases are detected and treated early.

“Yet, across many communities in Nigeria, primary health centres struggle with poor infrastructure, inadequate staff and shortages of essential medicines and commodities.

“By raising the BHCPF from one per cent to two of the CRF, we will increase available funding to strengthen existing frontline facilities, recruit and retain skilled health workers.

“It will guarantee access to essential medicines and services, particularly for women, children and rural populations.”

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Banigo added that the increase would also reduce financial hardship for households, who currently bear the highest share of health costs.

She noted that the BHCPF was established under Section 11 of the National Health Act, 2014 to provide a guaranteed minimum package of health services for all Nigerians.

“It represents Nigeria’s first statutory mechanism for sustainable health financing,” the senator added.

Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) to investigate the reported case of COVID-19 in Cross River State.

Akpabio directed the relevant health authorities to verify the claim and present a briefing on Tuesday.