ABUJA — The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of ₦40.76 billion under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the third quarter of 2026, marking an increase of ₦7.88 billion over the second-quarter allocation.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the disbursement during the 16th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting in Abuja.
In a major policy expansion, the Federal Government also approved extending health insurance coverage to approximately 90,000 inmates across Nigerian correctional facilities under the Vulnerable Group Health Insurance Scheme.
Under the Q3 2026 release structure, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) receives ₦19.87 billion, while the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) gets ₦18.34 billion. The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) was allocated ₦2.04 billion, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) receiving ₦509.48 million.
Prof. Pate explained that the government is also expanding the Direct Facility Financing scheme from 8,309 to 13,521 primary healthcare centers nationwide. Allocations are being disbursed based on equity metrics—including disease burden and population distribution—rather than political boundaries to ensure equitable healthcare delivery.
The minister emphasized that increased monthly statutory funding must translate directly into transparent management and improved primary healthcare access for vulnerable citizens in rural communities across the South-South region and the entire federation.
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