BHCPF paramount to sustaining Universal Health Coverage – Expert
A public health expert, Dr Ifeoma Uduji, have called for increased funding of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to achieve and sustain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
The Public Health Services and Policy Specialist made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu on Monday.
UHC is a healthcare system in which all residents of a particular country or region are assured access to quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship. The system also ensures that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without being pushed into poverty by healthcare costs.
Read Also:
The expert, who recalled that the National Health Act (2014) made provision for the pool fund from federal and state governments to increase access to public healthcare services to the vulnerable, implemented through the BHCPF, said the country must strive to achieve equity and equality in healthcare system.
According to her, equity and equality in healthcare means there will be no disparity between the quality of services that a wealthy man and a vulnerable (poor) person can access in a given health facility.
She said “one way Nigeria can achieve and sustain UHC is to increase the fund allocated to BHCPF.
“Currently, UHC covers only the minimum or essential healthcare services. Services like Cesarean Section (CS) and radiography and some laboratory services are not covered by the BHCPF.
“In addition, BHCPF only takes care of people attending one health facility per political ward. Therefore, increasing the fund will increase the number of fully functional healthcare facilities and increase the number of health insurance coverage in rural areas.
