Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU) Holds a Strategic Legislative Health Retreat

The Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO)  and other partners organized a joint health interactive session to elicit progress and achievements of health committees of the  9^th National assembly and brainstorm with the new legislators of the 10^th National Assembly and other stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), its  Departments and Agencies, to define priorities toward setting a strategic health agenda for the 10^th Assembly.

The meeting which held at Transcorp Hiton, Abuja, on the 14th of June, had in attendance the Permanent Secretary of FMOH represented, the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the representative of the Executive Secretary, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the coordinator of the Ministerial Oversight Committee of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), and other Directors of the FMOH.

The Country Representatives of the WHO, representatives from the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union, the Foreign Commonwealth Development Organization (FCDO), Results for Development R4D, the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund UNICEF, Heads of Development Partners Agencies DPG, amongst others were present.

Also in attendance were pioneers of the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU), 9th and 10th National Assembly Legislators, other critical stakeholders in the health sector, Civil Society Organizations, and the Media.  

The overall aim of the Strategic Legislative Health Retreat was to facilitate discussions between the 9th and 10th Assembly and other stakeholders towards addressing sectoral health issues and discuss possible areas of assistance and support through partnerships and collaborations.

In his goodwill message, the Country Representative of the WHO Dr Walter Molumbo Kazadi congratulated all the incoming legislators on their successful election and inauguration as members of the parliament as they are the people’s voice.  Dr. Walter expressed optimism that the event will provide a strategic direction to members of the 10^th National Assembly for the health sector that requires attention toward the achievement of universal health coverage and health security priorities of the country.  He said, with out-of-pocket expenditure on health from households in Nigeria consistently above 70% when the WHO benchmark is 30-40%, and per capita government health expenditure at less than $15 per annum, against the benchmark of $86, there is a need for legislators, particularly the new legislators to leverage their unique and prestigious functions of appropriation, legislation, and oversight to improve health outcomes in Nigeria towards poverty reduction and economic prosperity.

He Charged the new legislators to take advantage of opportunities existing in the reimagining Primary Healthcare Initiative, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, State Health Insurance and Contributory Schemes, National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, and the Vulnerable Group Fund, to make deliberate decisions to move Nigeria from the current situation to the desired levels, using evidence-based Legislative Health Agenda setting and clear accountability mechanisms.

He stressed that the WHO Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, wants to make the LNU Nigeria a reference point in Africa, as the WHO is already documenting best practices from the Network’s initiative for scale-up in other African countries.

He further reaffirmed that the WHO is better positioned to support Nigeria in repositioning the health system that works for the people in line with global commitments.

In another development, Mr. Paul McDermott while delivering his goodwill message on behalf of the coalition of Development Partners Groups DPG, working in Nigeria, presented some key asks from the Group to the new legislators, focusing on the need to sustain investment in the health sector, saving the lives of Nigerian children by ensuring that the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services is continually financed to cover a larger population, reorienting radically the health system and Primary Health Care towards UHC as well as protecting Nigerians from future pandemic by transforming Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health treats.

The DPG also reaffirmed their commitments to continued support to the LNU and the government of Nigeria for better health outcomes.

Also speaking at the retreat, the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, represented, highlighted the assurances of the institute towards achieving UHC in Nigeria, hence the mandate of the institute is to ensure that the positions and proposals advanced by the legislators are informed by the requisite research and analytical support.

According to him, the institute informs UHC-related policies through bill analysis, policy briefs, policy analysis, bill drafting, and bill scrutiny among others.  He strained that at the end of the exercise, outcomes will be collated for use by NILDS.

He opines that the interactive session should not only inform the legislative agenda of the 10^th National Assembly but also galvanize stakeholders to move from rhetoric to action toward the achievement of UHC goals in Nigeria.

Hon. Usman Mohammed, the Chairman of the National Advocate for Health, in his goodwill message, commended the Chairmen of Health committees of the 9^th national assembly for the great achievements in the health sector during their tenure at the national assembly, particularly the signing of the NHIA bill into law and in terms of budgetary allocation to health which has been the highest so far.

He further urged the new legislators present at the retreat to enroll in the committees of health to continue and improve on the achievements of their predecessors. He however stated that even though they are not in the health committees, whenever health issues are raised on the floor, they should endeavor to lend their voice. He stimulated them to take the issue of oversight as a function seriously to ensure the full implementation of policies/laws rather than developing new ones.

Distinguished Senator Dr Tejuoso, the pioneer of the LNU in his remark stated that the new Honorable members present at the retreat should serve as advocates to the Senators of the 10^th assembly and other members who were not in the retreat.  He recommended a low-hanging fruit for the new legislators which is the NHIA Act and charged them to ensure full implementation of the provisions of the law. He encouraged them to be relevant in terms of the implementation of policies rather than creating new ones and to constantly plan along with the FMOH in their constituency projects.

The Permanent Secretary FMOH, Engr. Adebiyi O. Olufunso FNSE, represented by Dr. Chris Isokpowun, the Director, of Monitoring and Evaluation, FMOH in his speech said, a lot has been done in the health sector and a lot still needs to be done to achieve universal health coverage. He stated that the National Health Act (NHAct) 2014 set the standard for the country to refocus at achieving UHC which was further strengthened by the signing of the NHIA Act 2022 which emphasized the need to make health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.

He said the BHCPF is a watershed that has begun to make its impact in the country. According to the Permanent Secretary of FMOH, since the inception of the BHCPF, a sum of 128.6 billion naira has been released from the federation account.  However, in 2019, it was a service-wide release where only 50% of the amount earmarked was released. But from 2021 to date, releases have been statutory and are released at 100%.  As of today, 128.6 billion Naira has been released to the BHCPF, of this, 59.6 billion naira has been disbursed to 36 states and Federal Capital Territory FCT through the gateways (NPHCDA, NHIA, EMTC& NCDC) which is 46.6% of the total amount received, that has been disbursed to States. He stressed that disbursement to States can only be made further if what has been given to States has been accounted for.

The PS FMOH also stated that the priority of the health sector remains the same as that of the aspirations of the National Assembly. He stressed the need to urgently address the issue of human resources for health in the country and improved funding of PHC in the country which remains the bedrock of the health care system in the country.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Co-Chair of the LNU, 9^th National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe in his presentation listed some of the key achievements of the LNU and the journey of the Network so far. He appreciated the newly inducted legislators for coming to share experiences and brainstorm with the outgoing 9^th assembly. He charged the new legislators to ensure they have a legislative health agenda that will inform the processes toward achieving UHC in the country. Senator Oloriegbe promised to continue to provide support to the new legislators to enable them to achieve their set agenda. He urged the new legislators to urgently ensure adequate appropriation to Vulnerable Group Fund in the NHIA Act, and additional funding for the BHCPF, Cancer Fund, and Nutrition Fund among others.

Some of the new legislators who spoke at the retreat expressed enthusiasm to join health committees and continue with the work of the LNU.

Honorable Rotimi Akintunde Jnr said the retreat has helped to shape his thought on the legacies and his work as a serving member of the 10^th national assembly. He pleaded for an extended retreat to accommodate other members of the parliament.

Another Honourable member at the retreat also expressed happiness for participating in the retreat and promised to work in the health committee to improve the health of the people.

Others who spoke at the retreat in their separate comments emphasized the need for the new legislators to mainstream health in the country, ensuring that health should henceforth be treated as a basic right where everyone has access to quality and affordable healthcare services. They also recommended that contraceptive commodities, family planning services, and maternal services be made available at a free rate. They spoke on the rate of attrition by health workers, advising the incoming legislators to ensure favorable working conditions for healthcare workers.

In conclusion, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi reassured the commitment of the WHO to working with other members of DPG for Health to continue to provide catalytic funding and support to the LNU in terms of TA as contained in the Legislative Health Agenda.

The key next steps from the retreat were to hold a Legislative retreat in the few months after the committees are formed at the national assembly, development of the Legislative Health Agenda for 2023/2027, and plan for the fifth Legislative Summit on Health in the next few months where the current Chair of the LNU will handover to the next Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, 10^th national assembly.

By LISDEL

Juliana Abude-Aribo | Editor | LISDEL

Photo ops at the Strategic Legislative Health Retreat

By Eruemolor A | LISDEL

Juliana Abude-Aribo | Editor | LISDEL