UHC: Govt tasked on funding for second national health development plan

Government at all levels have been enjoined to fund the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II) and ensure accountability in its implementation. The Second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II) is a five-year road map for policy implementation on improved health and well-being of Nigerians and also prioritizes health promotion and intervention. […]

Government at all levels have been enjoined to fund the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II) and ensure accountability in its implementation.

The Second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II) is a five-year road map for policy implementation on improved health and well-being of Nigerians and also prioritizes health promotion and intervention.

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other professional associations in the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@Scale) made the call while briefing newsmen yesterday in Abuja.

Barrister Ayo Adebusoye and Hajiya Halima Ben Umar who briefed newsmen on behalf of the coalition said doing so would enable the country to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means that all Nigerians get quality healthcare services where and when needed without suffering financial hardships. The coalition believes that if these barriers are removed by fully funding, implementing and ensuring accountability of the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II), every Nigerian will have access to affordable and quality healthcare ,” they said.

They said the country has been unable to ensure that every citizen has access to healthcare inspite of the development of structures like the first National Strategic Development Plan (NSHDP-I) and the National Health Insurance (NHIS).

The coalition said some other barriers to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria include low political will to adequately fund healthcare, poor governance, mismanagement of resources and lack of coordination among federal, state and local governments.

The civil society organisations also called on the federal government to the release the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in the 2018 Health Budget without delay.

They also called on government to explore innovative ways of funding the health system in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage such as the introduction of mobile phone tax that would involve charging one kobo per second on every outgoing mobile phone calls in Nigeria.