Dr Chris Isokpunwu Highlights The Differences Between The Old BHCPF Manual And The New Guidelines

The implementation of the BHCPF started with a grant from the World Bank in 2018. It was launched in 2019 but was suspended between 2019 and 2020 following observations by the National Assembly of inconsistencies in the implementation manual with the National Health Act (NHAct), 2014 provisions. 

The Manual was reviewed and renamed “Guidelines for the Administration, Disbursement and Monitoring of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund” (2020 Guidelines). With this, the BHCPF is now set to be fully implemented in the country.

The first edition of the webinar series, anchored by Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, Director and BHCPF MOC Secretary, focused on the operations of the new Guideline. About 200 persons across both public and private sector participated in the meeting.

Dr Chris’s presentation and subsequent discussion were mainly on the differences in the former Manual and the newly revised and approved Guideline. Key highlights from the presentation and discussions were:

• There is a framework for partnership, however, technical and financial supports from partners at the national and State levels must be approved by the Honorable Minister for Health. Donors may determine how their fund will be spent but must be in line with BHCPF Guidelines.
• Oversight of the BHCPF has been strengthened, now being led by the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), State Oversight Committees (SOCs), Local Government Health Agency (LGHA) and Primary Health Care (PHC) Advisory Committees, Chaired by the Honourable Minister for Health, Honourable Commissioners for Health and LGA Chairpersons of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) respectively.
• The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is the 4^th and newest Gateway. Other Gateways are the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Primary Health Care and Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Nigeria Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) with financial arrangement of 1.5%, 48.75%, 45% and 5% respectively.
• A Gateway Forum has been established to engender synergy, facilitate and enhance common reporting and communication channels.
• Importantly, treatment is now for poor and indigent Nigerians irrespective of age and gender and enrolment will be on individual cases rather than the household level.
• Health cover for the basic healthcare package is now comprehensive at both primary and secondary level of care with emergency treatment for all Nigerians.

The webinar recording is available here >>>

By Jamila Mohammed-Jantabo | LISDEL-BHCPF