The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was established to support the effective delivery of primary and secondary health care services through the provision of Basic Minimum Package of Healthcare Services (BMPHS) and Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT).
This was mandated by the National Health Act (NHAct) of 2014 which was enacted to ensure improved health outcomes, by providing a legal framework for the provision of health care services and establish an organisational and management structure for the health system in Nigeria.
Implementation of the BHCPF commenced in 2019, with the overall aim of the BHCPF is to significantly move Nigeria towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and with the following objectives:
- To achieve at least 1 (one) fully functional public or private primary health care (PHC) facility in each political ward; at least 30% of all wards over the next 3 years, 70% within 5 years, and 100% within 7 years.
- To achieve at least 3 (three) fully functional public or private secondary health care facilities, benefitting from the BHCPF in each state; at least 50% of all states over the next 3 years, and 100% within 5 years.
- To establish effective emergency medical response services in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 5 years, including a national ambulance service.
- To reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by 30% in 5 years and increase financial risk protection through health insurance.
- To increase life expectancy to at least 60 years over the next 10 years.
Eligibility and Scope of Coverage
The Fund will be used to give basic minimum package of health services (BMPHS) to all Nigerians. Individual people will be the coverage unit. Beneficiaries will be registered for the program. Enrollment operations will be carried out by State Health Insurance Schemes and Agencies in partnership with the NHIA to ensure the validity of enrolment data.
The Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS), as defined by NHIA, NPHCDA, and partners and approved by the Honourable Minister of Health, consists of a package of preventative, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services as outlined in the BCHPF guideline. The premium rate for the benefit package has been calculated actuarially to be N12,000.00 (twelve thousand naira).
Primary health care (PHC) facilities registered by SPHCDAs and SPHCBs, as well as secondary facilities registered by SMoHs and accredited by SHIAs and SHISs in partnership with NHIA, must provide health care services. As service delivery points, public and private primary health care centers will be used. Following recommendation from PHCs, secondary health care services will be offered by public and private health care providers.
For more information, visit NPHCDA or BHCPF.
To enrol for BHCPF, visit the nearest health centre around you.