In response to the ongoing economic challenges in Nigeria, the federal government has unveiled a new medical palliative scheme aimed at enhancing healthcare access and alleviating citizens’ financial burdens.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), provides free medical treatment, medications, surgeries, and food supplies to patients.
The scheme was officially launched at the Gwarimpa General Hospital in Abuja, where Adedolapo Fasawe, the mandate secretary of the FCTA Health and Environment Secretariat, addressed the ongoing economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
“It is not news to all of us that Nigeria is going through a tough period right now. We have a government that is not ignorant of this. We have a government that is not pretending not to see what is going on,” Fasawe said.
Fasawe explained that the initiative was designed to address the issue of patients using funds meant for medication to purchase food.
He noted that the proposal for the medical palliatives was approved by Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, only after presenting a detailed sustainability plan.
His words: ”This plan includes leveraging the national health insurance scheme, which is funded by a portion of the national budget, to support the initiative.
”The scheme promises to provide treatments, medicines, and medical services free of charge. It is designed to cover up to two months’ worth of medication for beneficiaries, allowing them to reallocate funds for other necessities.
”To qualify, individuals must register for the FCT health insurance scheme, which offers comprehensive healthcare coverage for a family of four at a fixed annual rate.”
Health and Social Welfare Minister Muhammad Pate emphasized the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services.
“In the last year, we have expanded primary health care centres through direct facility financing to 8,800 centres across all 36 states,” Pate said.
He also highlighted the enrollment of over two million Nigerians in health insurance programs funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
To address malnutrition, Pate announced the formation of a ministerial task force and the mobilization of resources to provide therapeutic foods and supplements.
He said the government has also secured $30 million through the ANRIM program to supply ready-to-use therapeutic foods and support domestic production.
In a related development, the Federal Government has commenced taking strategic steps to enhance human resources for health, focusing on increasing and upscaling the number of healthcare professionals.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced that the government aims to enrol 100,000 nurses by the end of 2024, leveraging existing infrastructure in Federal Medical Centres across the country.
Dr Alausa made this announcement during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Plateau government for the takeover and upgrade of General Hospital Wase to Federal Medical Centre Wase and National Orthopedic Hospital Jos recently.
