Sen. Tejuoso defends N57.1b inclusion in the 2018 Appropriation Act
As part of its efforts towards a better and affordable health care services, the Nigerian Senate has explained reasons to justify the inclusion of N57.1billion in the 2018 Appropriation to cater for Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCF).
Briefing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso (APC, Ogun Central), said the decision of the Upper Legislative Chamber to include the allocation was in fulfilment of a promise made since 2014 in conjunction with the Executive to set up a fund that improves the quality of health care delivery and expands the health insurance coverage for ordinary Nigerians.
He, however, lamented that the policy, which was aimed at improving the health sector, was abandoned as successive budget proposals including the recently passed 2018 budget failed to make provisions for its implementation.
This, the lawmaker said, necessitated the Senate, led by Senate President Bukola Saraki, to embark on a comprehensive awareness campaign during the appropriation process with a view to including provision for the policy in the 2018 budget.
“As part of efforts geared towards the health care landscape in Nigeria through better funding of health that will translate to improved access to basic health care services in the country, a provision was made for Basic Health Provision Package (BCHF) in the 2014 Health Act.
“The Fund is meant for the provision of basic minimum package of care through strengthened Primary Health Care Systems and expanded health insurance coverage including improved access to emergency services.
“However, the BHCF which should statutorily financed from not less than 1 percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government and other sources of funding was not appropriated in the previous Appropriation Acts since 2014,” he said.
Senator Tejuoso further stated that “as a demonstration of commitment and responsiveness of the 8th National Assembly to the healthcare needs of Nigerians, the Senate under the leadership of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki renewed it’s commitment towards implementation of the BHCF and chart a relentless course of action.
“Realising the need to form a critical mass to mobilise the national and state lawmakers including development partners and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage, the first of its kind, was conceived and launched at a high profile summit on July 24 and 25 in 2017. The Legislative Network platform provided the impetus to galvanise support and leverage statutory roles of lawmakers to reform the health landscape in Nigeria.
“At the aforementioned – launch, the Senate President made a commitment to Nigerians that BHCF will be protected if included in the 2018 Appropriation by the Executive Arm of Government,” the lawmaker added.
He noted that while the Executive did not include the BHCF in the 2018 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly, the Senate embarked upon a “phenomenal” task of ensuring its implementation by making available the sum of N57.1billion.
“To this end, the Senate mandated its Committee on Appropriation to work out a modality for accommodating the Fund in the 2018 appropriation. The Senate Committee on Health through the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), to the Legislative Network on UHC held series of sensitisation, capacity building and media parleys to galvanise support towards the implementation of the BHCF and reiterate the commitment of the National Assembly towards the course.
“Today, I’m happy to inform you that the Senate President and the Senate Committee on Health have lived up to their promise to Nigerians by including in the 2018 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly yesterday,” Tejuoso added.
He, however, stressed that “the time to celebrate is not now”, adding that “the time to roll out the drums is when all Nigerians irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, income level and geographical location are able to access needed health care without suffering any financial hardship”.
He said the Senate has remain vigilant to ensure that nothing scuttles their collective will towards actualising the dream of affordable universal health care for all Nigerians.
