FG commits to closing healthcare gaps in 2025

Daniel Adaji, Abuja

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing healthcare gaps in Nigeria, particularly for patients battling HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, made this declaration at the 10th (Q1, 2025) Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

“I think we’ve communicated repeatedly on this. The government is very committed to ensuring that Nigerians, particularly those who are afflicted by diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria, continue to receive the care they need. And it is in that direction that the President provided for, in 2025, resources for us to begin to meet the gap,” Pate stated.

He acknowledged that while gaps exist in the healthcare system, the government is making deliberate efforts to bridge them. “The gap is there, but we are stepping up because we have the responsibility to take care of the health of Nigerians,” he emphasised.

To support primary healthcare, the minister highlighted the role of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which covers frontline health workers and essential medical commodities.

The gap is there, but we are stepping up because we have the responsibility to take care of the health of Nigerians

“BHCPF is one line item for the primary health care platform, which pays for the primary health care system, the frontline health workers, but there are also the commodities and test kits for tuberculosis. There’s a separate line item which is provided for that, and we are going to use those line items,” he explained.

Addressing concerns raised by external agencies about potential drug shortages, Pate dismissed reports suggesting an imminent stockout.

“We have seen reports of external agencies from Geneva making reports that they are emitting stock out. The fact is that our analysis shows that there is no imminent stock out. We are moving towards direct as well as emergency procurement using the resources,” he said.

He also cautioned against misinformation from international organizations that might not fully understand Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.

“It will not be appropriate for Geneva-based organizations who don’t know much of our context and the efforts that our governments are making to be making statements that may imply that there are shortages,” he stressed.

We may just have to procure from countries that are more like us

On the procurement of medical supplies, the minister suggested a shift towards sourcing from countries with similar economic realities.

“We may just have to procure from countries that are more like us. We may use our own resources, not the large amount of resources that comes from external sources,” he noted.

Pate reassured Nigerians that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to healthcare.

“Nigerians should be assured that President Tinubu is committed, and we that are working with him are fully, fully determined to ensure that we do everything within our powers to ensure that those who require treatment are treated, including for tuberculosis, for malaria, and also for those who are on antiretroviral therapy,” he affirmed.

Highlighting recent funding approvals, Pate disclosed that substantial federal resources had been allocated to support primary healthcare services.

We have to ensure health security by preventing outbreaks

“Billion of naira was approved for disbursement to the state, local government, and more than 8,000 primary health care centers. This is federal resources from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which will support expansion of primary health care services, expansion of the Vulnerable Youth Fund to ensure women, children get affordable access to quality health care,” he said.

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s healthcare security system to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.

“We have to ensure health security by preventing outbreaks, protecting them, and being able to respond to them,” he stated.

Pate acknowledged challenges in fund disbursement but expressed confidence that they would be resolved soon.

The reforms that we have undertaken over the last 18 months are worth it

“I had issues opening their accounts, getting the signatories to their accounts. But as you have heard, the issue is with the Accounting General of the Federation and we are confident that the new Accounting General of the Federation will remove those bottlenecks so that they have access to their accounts,” he said.

He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to implement healthcare reforms, stating, “The reforms that we have undertaken over the last 18 months are worth it. And we appreciate the President for his leadership in ensuring that we get the resources to be able to do it.”

With these commitments, the government aims to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and ensure that vulnerable populations receive the medical care they need.

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