…as NCDC requests N7.38 Billion
By Christiana Ekpa
Health Agencies under the House committee on Healthcare Services have demanded for more funds in the 2025 Budget.
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) proposed forty eight point one four seven eight billion naira as its 2025 Budget.
The proposal was made as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Muyi Aina, appeared before the House Committee on Healthcare Institutions for budget defense, in Abuja.
He said that the agency the agency despite having the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and Vaccine Immunisation Funds as alternative finances, the government needed to increase the agency’s budget for optimum performance.
He noted that the budget release for 2024 was low but hopes for better release in 2025.
Dr. Aina added that if the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency is granted the requested sum, it would go a long way in addressing health challenges in the country.
Similarly, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has proposed over Seven point three eight Billion naira for the 2025 Budget.
The Director General of the centre, Dr Jide Idris said that the amount would help Nigeria in combating disease outbreaks in the country.
He said that Nigeria is combating eight disease outbreaks currently.
“ We are ready for any outbreak because we have built capacity. We don’t expect anything but we are monitoring.Preparedness is ongoing in the area of research and collaborations with other agencies. Web have engaged with all the state governments to develop their
surveillance. Our own is to support them”. Dr. Idris said.
He also cashed In on a suggestion by a member of the committee on increasing the health budget to appeal for more funds to manage NCDC.
“ There must be a contingency fund for the agency to avoid running helter skelter anytime there is an outbreak in the country “ Dr. Idris added.
Meanwhile, the Medical And Dental Council Of Nigeria says it would require one hundred and thirteen billion naira for its 2025 operations.
The Registra of the Medical And Dental Council Of Nigeria, Dr Fatima Kyari made the disclosure at the budget defense.
She said that the agency was did not get any allocation in 2024 as it was taken off the budgetary system.
“We were not part of the 2024 budget because we were not part of the budgeting process. The funds we got was from another source and from doctors registration”. Dr. Kyari said.
She however explained that the council survived on fees from doctors registration and other levies.
“ We will do more advocacy to reach out to more doctors.
We have actually mopped up all the general hospitals”. She said.
She admitted that there is pressure on the federal institutions in Nigeria as medical graduates prefer to go there.
On their part,the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA is asking for one hundred and thirty billion for me 2025.
The Director General of the agency, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said that the fund would be used to tackle low health insurance coverage in Nigeria .He said that as at 2024, nineteen point four million Nigerians are covered by NHIA while two point five million Nigerians are covered by Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
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