By Asma’u Ahmad
Stakeholders in health sector has urged all tiers of government to allocate 15 per cent of annual budget to health sector to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Nigerians.
The stakeholders made the call in Abuja at a road walk to commemorate the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day marked globally on December 12 with the theme: “Act with ambition.”
The Chairman, National Immunisation Financing Task Team, Dr. Ben Anyene, described the allocation of 4.5 per cent of annual national budget to health sector as grossly inadequate to cater for the health needs of the populace.
Dr. Anyene, who was the former Chairman Board of Trustee Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), described the UHC initiative as health for all.
He however urged the government to give priority to its implementation through the existing legal framework like the National Health Act, among others.
Dr. Ben Anyene
The chairman who described making policy without it implementation as baseless, said that giving full health to Nigerians would amount to preventing health challenges.
He said that the masses who were faced with diverse health challenge could not survive with such meagre allocation neither could the health of Nigerians.
Anyene noted that Nigeria in conjunction with other African Heads of State made the commitment 15 years ago.
According to him, the commitment to allocate 15 per cent of their annual budget to health has not been implemented by the Nigerian government till date, adding that the implementation required government’s resolve, commitment and change of orientation.
He said that the implementation of the National Health Act would help in strengthening the health system and further curtail the menace of medical tourism.
The Representative of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Henry Ewunonu, also urged the government to do everything possible to capture all provisions of National Health Act in next year’s budget.
Dr. Ewunonu emphasised that the Act stipulated that no Nigerian should suffer financial hardship just because of ill-health or wanting to access healthcare services.
He, however, attributed the health challenges faced by the populace on certain inactions or errors of omission and commission of those in power.
