FCT moves to access over N1bn health fund

Federal legislators representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have said the territory will soon benefit from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. Senator Phillip Aduda and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Zephaniah Jisalo, made this known at a dialogue to get the stakeholders to buy into two health bills to ensure availability of quality healthcare to residents.

The dialogue was organised by Health Policy Plus in Abuja, yesterday.

According to the country director of Health Policy Plus, Onoriode Ezire, the bills would provide a legalised framework for the FCT Primary Healthcare Development Board and Health Insurance Scheme.

Without the legal framework, he said, the FCT would not benefit from the one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund, also termed Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which is about to be disbursed by the Federal Government.

The fund, if accessed, would provide over N1 billion to fund primary healthcare and health insurance for the residents in 2018.

Aduda, who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Ali Dankawu, said he sponsored the bills and assured stakeholders that he would facilitate its speedy passage by the National Assembly and the presidential assent.

“We shall ensure that the bills pass second reading within the shortest possible time; what is worth doing is worth doing well. The bills will be supported by my colleagues,” he added. He called on the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat to ensure proper documentation and preparation for the public hearing.

On his part, Jisalo said the House of Representatives would also ensure speedy passage because “I am also a beneficiary. We will do justice to these bills despite the fact that it is towards the end of the legislative year.”

The dialogue was attended by traditional rulers and other health personnel from the FCT and Nasarawa State.