Senate Committee on Health Public Hearing on the National Health Act 2014 Amendment Bill and other Health Bills

The Senate Committee on Health held a two-day public hearing on 10 Bills. The Bills were mostly to establish health institutions, Universities of Medicine and Medical Sciences across various locations in Nigeria. There was also a Bill to amend the University Teaching Hospitals Act, a Bill to establish the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Treatment Center, and a Bill for an Act to amend the National Health Act 2014.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Dr Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe noted that the establishment of the Federal Health Institutions will further improve access to healthcare in the country.

Sen. Oloriegbe noted the importance of the Bill amending the National Health Act 2014 which seeks to strengthen the inclusion of private sector players in health systems strengthening and governance. He added that the Bill will empower the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health to preside over the affairs of the National Council of Health in the absence of the Minister.

He highlighted that the Bill also made provisions for health security to improve Nigeria’s capacity to adequately prepare and respond to public health emergencies, and for improved funding of the health sector by increasing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 1% of the country’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to 2%. Other stakeholders at the Hearing recommended the amendment of the Bill to include Civil Society Organizations in the membership of the National Council of Health to support transparency and accountability.

In his keynote address, the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Sen. Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora acknowledged the quest to improve access to quality healthcare services by establishing Federal Medical Centers. However, the policy for establishing Federal Medical Centers is for them to be established in States where there are no Federal Teaching Hospitals.

He recommended that establishment of Tertiary Health Facilities in states that already have some in operation will put more pressure on scarce resources and undermine the capacity to strengthen the existing ones.

He further recommended the implementation of the existing policy of Federal Tertiary Hospitals adopting State Government-owned Comprehensive Health Centers or Primary Healthcare Centers in a Senatorial Zone to improve healthcare delivery and capacity building, rather than establishing new ones where Federal Tertiary health facilities are already in existence.

LISDEL, alongside other participants at the hearing supported the Bills to establish the Universities of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Egbe and Igbeagu, Izzi, the Bill to Establish a Sickle Cell Disease Research and Treatment Center was rejected by the majority on the grounds that it will duplicate functions of an already existing research center.

The Bills had earlier been transmitted by the Senate to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative action after they all passed second reading on the floor of the Senate. The Committee will review public opinions on the Bills and revert to the Senate with its report.

Contributed by Philip Akoso (LISDEL)