One percent of the Consolidated Fund for Healthcare which accrued from disbursement to some healthcare agencies has yielded some funds that led the Federal Ministry of Health to distribute the sum of N12.7 billion of the budgeted N55 billion.
The fund, it was learnt, was disbursed on 17th May 2019 before the dissolution of the last Federal Executive Council.
It was also learnt that another tranche will be disbursed between now and September.
The breakdown of the disbursement according to findings shows that N6.5 billion (50%) went to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NLHCDA) got N5.8 billion (45%) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) N327 Million.
Disclosing the disbursement yesterday at Association for Nigerian Health Journalists (ANHEJ) a technical session and briefing, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba of Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) said the money has already been disbursed as contained in the 2018 appropriation bill.
Garba also noted that another twenty-five (25) per cent has been allocated to the account of the Ministry of Health for further disbursement.
“This money has been disbursed to the three agencies and more money will be disbursed in July till August and September. We are also informed that another 25 per cent has already been allocated to the account of the federal ministry of health,” he said.
He therefore requested the agencies to make public how they have utilized the releases for the benefit of the ordinary people.
He said, “They are the gate keepers to the Nigerian people so they have to tell us what they are using the money for. The money given to the should be used for drugs at the Primary Healthcare centre, for immunisation, infrastructure development, live saving drugs for pregnant women and toilets in PHCs. Its a big shame that most PHCs lacks a good convenience for both staff and patients. The money for NCDC should be used for emergencies preparedness for disease outbreak so the Heads of agencies should not complain about lack of funds.”
