The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N32.8 billion to states under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the second quarter of 2026 to strengthen primary healthcare, health insurance, emergency medical services, and disease outbreak preparedness nationwide.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the approval after the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting, stating that the funding would sustain ongoing reforms aimed at improving access to quality healthcare.
The minister disclosed that N235 billion of the N339 billion released through the BHCPF over the past 12 years was disbursed within the last three years under the current administration. He said the programme provides quarterly funding to more than 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the minister, the investments have improved healthcare delivery, with over 130,000 Nigerians benefiting from emergency medical services. He added that 35 states have established emergency medical service structures, while emergency funds have also been released to all states to strengthen preparedness against the Ebola Virus Disease.
The minister further revealed that more than 3,000 primary healthcare centres have been upgraded to Level 2 standard, health insurance coverage has expanded by over six million enrollees in the past three years, and more than 48,000 women have received free emergency obstetric care through federal funding.
He urged state and local governments to fulfil their counterpart funding obligations to expand available resources and accelerate improvements in healthcare service delivery across the country.
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