FG approves new health policy

The Emergency National Council on Health meeting held in Abuja, Thursday, approved the National Health Policy document.

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, announced the approval of the document after deliberations by the council members.

The National Health Policy is a comprehensive health document that spells out the functions and responsibilities of all levels of government.

In his presentation, Mr. Adewole, a professor, said the overall goal of the policy was to strengthen Nigeria’s health system particularly the primary healthcare sub-system to deliver qualitative, efficient and comprehensive healthcare services to all Nigerians.

The minister urged state governors to allocate at least 15 per cent of their annual budget to the health sector in line with Abuja declaration, for the implementation of National Health Policy.

He said the Federal Government is going to allocate at least one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the establishment of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund as provided by National Health Act 2014.

He called on state governors to ensure timely release and disbursement of allocated funds for health to achieve the objective of the National Health Policy.

He called on the state governors and health commissioners to explore additional ways of funding the National Health Policy in their various states. He added that both federal and state governments are ready to partner with private individuals to support the health sector.

While imploring wealthy individuals to commit part of their resources to the development of the health sector, he called for widespread dissemination of the policy.

Mr. Adewole, however, advised the state governments to also develop their own Strategic Health Development Plan in line with the new National Health Policy.