The National Assembly, on Monday, says its working towards achieving universal health coverage for Nigerians, such that citizens will no longer need to pay before emergency treatments are given in the hospitals.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe gave the assurance at a workshop Abuja, organised by Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL)
Speaking to newsmen at the event, the lawmaker says, when fully achieved, universal health coverage will make it possible for the poorest citizens to access quality health services even when they are not having money.
Read: We have made advance progress with BHCPF enrollment across Nigeria — FG
Senator Olorigbe says efforts to realise this goal is a work in progress.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight committee, for Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), at the Federal Ministry Of Health (FMOH), Dr Chris Isokpunwu,
says the fund will guarantee emergency medical treatment for all Nigerians at the point of care.
According to him, the BHCPF provides Emergency Medical Treatment, with five percent to be administered by the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) as appointed by the National Council on Health (NCH).
According to him the objectives of the BHCPF were; to achieve at least one fully functional public or private PHC, facility in each political ward; at least 30 percent of all wards over the next three years, 70 percent within the next five years, and 100 percent within the next seven years.
The Nigeria health sector is facing several challenges, including inadequate number of doctors, and lack of access to affordable health services as most patients pay out of pockets at the point of Service
