Using Legislation to Mobilize Funding for Primary Health Care In Nigeria

One of the ways in which the systemic failures existing in the Nigerian health system is expressed is in social exclusion and health inequities resulting from poor funding and poor quality of basic health services especially targeting the poor and vulnerable population..

The Nigerian government spends only about 6.5% of total government expenditure for health, which translates to about $19 per person. This is far short of the WHO’s recommended $35-50 per capita needed to provide a basic package of life-saving services. 

To expand equity, improve performance and increased access to basic health services for the poor and vulnerable, the health sector developed a National Health Bill in 2008 to seek the allocation of dedicated funds of up to 2% of the country’s consolidated fund and as result increase funding for Primary Health Care Services, and expand coverage of social insurance.

The Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS2), a DFID-funded project in Nigeria, in collaborating with Civil Society Organizations under a coalition on National Health Bill, organized a protest march that led to the passage of the Bill.

This  Health Bill, when signed into law by the President following  approval by the National Assembly will make available additional Naira 45 billion or equivalent of US$288 million (or US$1.92 per capita) for infrastructural upgrade of primary health facilities, purchase of basic drugs and equipment and for hiring additional human resources to staff primary care facilities.

With investment to improve Primary Health Care Services, as well as for the scale up of social health insurance to a wide population, the proceeds from the Health Bill will improve access to quality basic services, and facilitate attainment of universal health care, and the MDGs.

This additional funding will buy more health and accelerate the attainment of the health related MDGs by Nigeria by 2015.