Transfer 2024 CHF Budget From Health Ministry To NICRAT, AHBN Tells FG
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has urged the Federal Government to transfer the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) budget line for 2024 from the Ministry of Health (FMoH) to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) for enhanced management and coordination.
Dr Aminu Garba, AHBN Coordinator, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
“The movement implies that the NICRAT will be primarily responsible for handling the funding and ensuring that it was effectively utilised for cancer research and treatment initiatives.
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“On the other hand, the ministry can continue to play a supervisory role, ensuring that NICRAT operates within the designated guidelines and objectives set by the government.
“This oversight function would likely involve monitoring the progress, outcomes, and overall effectiveness of the initiatives carried out by NICRAT using the CHF budget.
“Overall, the proposed change aims to streamline the management and coordination of cancer-related funding by entrusting a specialised institution like NICRAT with the responsibility, while still maintaining government oversight through the FMoH,” he said.
CHF is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health, is a social service and an innovative way to provide affordable cancer treatments for indigent patients at treatment centers across Nigeria. The CHF programme began in 2021 with six pilot hospitals.
