The federal government has revealed that it is making efforts to ensure that at least one functional primary health care (PHC) centre is established in each political ward in the country.
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole disclosed this in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 11th Annual Scientific Conference and All Fellows’ Congress of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Ibadan. He said this was towards making health care delivery accessible to all and sundry in the country.
According to him, these health centres will be provided through National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Ministry of Health.
The Minister said the initiative became imperative in view of the focus of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to make the PHC the entry point into healthcare system.
“A health system where citizens bypass the primary healthcare level and access care directly from the tertiary level cannot sustain equity and efficiency,” he said, adding, “based on this, it is hoped that within the next five years, the government will be able to renovate and make fully functional 10,000 PHCs in Nigeria.”
Adewole stated further that the government was working with the states to develop their health systems and work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health to have a national health system that is well integrated.
“From the demand side, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is working with the states in a policy of decentralization of health insurance implementation to the states, which is believed to be the right response to the Federal structure with states having constitutional power to legislate on health.
“When fully implemented, this will see the states using the social health insurance mechanism to finance their health systems, which is more efficient, equitable and transparent. At the end, NHIS will transmute into an agency to integrate and regulate the overall health insurance system in Nigeria,” he added.