Health bill in nigeria news

Here are some recent news articles and updates on the health bill in Nigeria:

National Health Bill

• The National Health Bill, also known as the National Health Act, was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2014. The bill aims to provide a framework for the development of the healthcare system in Nigeria and ensure access to quality healthcare for all citizens.
• The law establishes the National Health Council, which is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the health policy and strategy in the country.
• The bill also establishes the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as a mandatory scheme for all Nigerians, with the aim of providing universal health coverage.

Recent Developments

• In 2020, the Nigerian government launched the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to provide health insurance coverage to all citizens. The scheme is mandatory for all Nigerians, and individuals who fail to enroll may face penalties.
• In 2020, the Nigerian government also launched the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), which is a fund dedicated to providing basic healthcare services to all Nigerians. The fund is financed by a 1% deduction from the country's Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
• In 2022, the Nigerian government announced plans to increase the allocation to the BHCPF from 1% to 2% of the CRF, in order to improve access to basic healthcare services in the country.

Challenges

• Despite the efforts to improve the healthcare system in Nigeria, there are still many challenges facing the sector. These include inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and a shortage of healthcare professionals.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has also put a strain on the healthcare system in Nigeria, with many hospitals struggling to cope with the surge in cases.
• The country is also grappling with the issue of out-of-pocket payments, which can be a significant burden for many Nigerians. The government has announced plans to phase out out-of-pocket payments and replace them with a more sustainable financing mechanism.

Recent News Articles

• "Nigeria's National Health Bill: A Step Towards Universal Health Coverage" (The Guardian, 2020)
• "Nigeria Launches National Health Insurance Scheme to Provide Universal Health Coverage" (Premium Times, 2020)
• "Nigeria's Basic Healthcare Provision Fund: A Step Towards Improving Healthcare Access" (The Punch, 2020)
• "Nigeria's Healthcare System Struggles to Cope with COVID-19 Pandemic" (BBC News, 2020)
• "Nigeria to Increase Allocation to Basic Healthcare Provision Fund" (Vanguard, 2022)

I hope this information is helpful!