FG disburses N235bn basic healthcare provision fund in three years

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare

The Federal Government has disbursed a cumulative N339 billion through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) since its establishment, with N235 billion, representing about 70 per cent of the total, released in the last three years. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria, disclosed this at a World Health Forum event, where he said the increased disbursement reflected the government’s renewed commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and making basic health services more accessible to Nigerians. The BHCPF was established under the National Health Act 2014 as a catalytic federal government financing mechanism to support primary healthcare and other essential health interventions. Pate, who was represented by Uzoma Nwankwo, a director at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the fund was particularly important because primary healthcare delivery largely falls within the responsibilities of state and local governments, while the Federal Government has continued to provide financing to sustain access to basic healthcare. “For a family seeking care, choice comes from experience. Whether a health worker is available, whether the prescribed medicine is in stock, whether the cost is explained, and whether a referral leads to treatment, those are the questions against which our financing reforms must judge,” he said. He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare. According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria, disclosed this at a World Health Forum event, where he said the increased disbursement reflected the government’s renewed commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and making basic health services more accessible to Nigerians. The BHCPF was established under the National Health Act 2014 as a catalytic federal government financing mechanism to support primary healthcare and other essential health interventions. Pate, who was represented by Uzoma Nwankwo, a director at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the fund was particularly important because primary healthcare delivery largely falls within the responsibilities of state and local governments, while the Federal Government has continued to provide financing to sustain access to basic healthcare. “For a family seeking care, choice comes from experience. Whether a health worker is available, whether the prescribed medicine is in stock, whether the cost is explained, and whether a referral leads to treatment, those are the questions against which our financing reforms must judge,” he said. He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare. According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

The BHCPF was established under the National Health Act 2014 as a catalytic federal government financing mechanism to support primary healthcare and other essential health interventions. Pate, who was represented by Uzoma Nwankwo, a director at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the fund was particularly important because primary healthcare delivery largely falls within the responsibilities of state and local governments, while the Federal Government has continued to provide financing to sustain access to basic healthcare. “For a family seeking care, choice comes from experience. Whether a health worker is available, whether the prescribed medicine is in stock, whether the cost is explained, and whether a referral leads to treatment, those are the questions against which our financing reforms must judge,” he said. He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare. According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Pate, who was represented by Uzoma Nwankwo, a director at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the fund was particularly important because primary healthcare delivery largely falls within the responsibilities of state and local governments, while the Federal Government has continued to provide financing to sustain access to basic healthcare. “For a family seeking care, choice comes from experience. Whether a health worker is available, whether the prescribed medicine is in stock, whether the cost is explained, and whether a referral leads to treatment, those are the questions against which our financing reforms must judge,” he said. He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare. According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

“For a family seeking care, choice comes from experience. Whether a health worker is available, whether the prescribed medicine is in stock, whether the cost is explained, and whether a referral leads to treatment, those are the questions against which our financing reforms must judge,” he said. He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare. According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare. According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security. He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy. Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results. He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation. “These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

“These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,” he said. Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA. He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training. Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Read also: Nigeria’s health insurance coverage rises from 5% to 20%, as PHC patronage hits 45m on improved funding, Tinubu He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners. However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities. Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens. He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas. “These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

“These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,” he said. On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved. This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges. “Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

“Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,” he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured. Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports. Olam expands $150m Nigeria feed business into cattle market Trump offers $5,000 payout as Republicans face tough midterm battle Women advance economically but lose political ground ahead of 2027 The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity. According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care. He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment. “We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

“We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,” the Minister said. He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals. “People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

“People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,” he said. Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery. He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements. He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources. The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records. Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation. He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp

He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities. Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery. He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements. “I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,” he said. He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information. Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA. On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base. He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes. He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities. For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment. He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities. “The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment. “That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme”, Pate said. He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Share Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp