Release 2025 NCDs budget, deliver UHC promises—Patients AWG on NCDs tells FG

The Patients Advocacy Working Group (AWG) for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Financing in Nigeria, has called on the federal government to release 2025 NCDs budget, deliver Universal Health Coverage (UHC) promises.

The AWG comprises patients of hypertension from across the country in alliance with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and health professional communities.

They made the call on Thursday in Abuja, during the Inception Meeting of the NCDs Media

Community of Practice (CoP), and NCDIS SEED GRANT LAUNCH.

At the event which was sponsored by  Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development and

Global Health Advocacy Incubator, the patients specifically called on the Nigerian government to urgently translate its commitment to health into concrete, life-saving action for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

The text of the press conference which was read by Mrs. Ijomoa Joseph-Agbara and Mrs. Maimuna Baran, a cancer survivor, said

NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses, pose some of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s human capital and economic prosperity for NCDs patients in Nigeria.

They said the patients bear one of the largest shares of public health burdens.

“One-third of Nigerian adults have one or more NCDs and less than 20% have access to diagnosis and treatment. The rise in NCDs align with targets set in the 2019-2025 multisectoral plan to increase diagnosis and treatment coverage to 80% and reduce mortality by 25%

“Yet, only 6% of the already insufficient health budget is allocated to NCDs. As we have now leamed, nearly none of the budgeted activities in the 2025 budget have been executed. These activities range from erecting new cancer facilities, eye centres, medical outreaches for hypertension and diabetes screening and treatment as well as health workers training.

“This development defies the spirit of Universal Health Coverage which Nigeria joins the world to commemorate today. UHC is built on our collective understanding of social impacts on health. For many Nigerians, lack of adequate health education, household income, lack of access for early screening and high cost of medicines exacerbated by economic policies have combined impact on the incidence and management of chronic diseases. This vulnerability is what Nigeria and the rest of the world have agreed to protect against through the UHC Agenda.

“Patients have been on the sideline for so long as policies and budget decisions are made on their behalf But the era of silence is over.”

Speaking further, they called on the  legislative and executive arms to ringfence SSB Tax to finance Special NCD Interventions:

“We commend the Senate and the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Pate, for supporting an increase from the token N10 per liter to a more effective rate – such as N130 per liter or at least 20% of the retail price) At least 40% of SSB tax revenue should be dedicated to NCD prevention and control, Including essential drugs, diagnostics, and service delivery consistent with global best practice.

“With 70% of health spending coming out-of-pocket, millions delay or abandon treatment for life-threatening NCDs We call for the following policy changes:

“Expand NCD Benefit Packages: The NHIA and BHCPF must rapidly scale the inclusion of NCD screening, diagnostics, and treatment in their benefit packages Half of adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed, and only one in five individuals with hypertension has their condition under control.

“Invest in and Strengthen Primary Healthcare (PHC). PHC facilities must be equipped and staffed to deliver basic NCD prevention and management, supporting 90% of essential UHC interventions

“The Patient Advocacy Working Group stands ready to work with governments at all levels to attain this shared UHC aspirations for NCD patients in Nigeria.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to demonstrate decisive leadership by increasing NCD funding, establishing a dedicated hypertension budget line, mandating earmarking of SSB tax revenue, and ensuring NCD services are comprehensively integrated into UHC.”