Stakeholders seek timely budgeting, disbursement of BHCPF in Anambra
By Chinedum Treasure
Stakeholders in health sector in Anambra state have advocated for timely budgeting and disbursement of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) & other health counter-part funded programmes.
The stakeholders made the call during a one-day engagement on Framework to Oversight Budgeting and Timely Disbursement of BHCPF for effective services in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Anambra State.
Speaking, Executive Director, Civil Rights Concern (CRC), Okey Onyeka said review of framework for BHCPF budgeting and disbursement has become necessary to ensure adequate implementation of basic healthcare provision funds for the state.
He said, "We invited stakeholders who can make meaningful contributions and develop a framework that will ensure timely, transparent and accountable use of the funds.
"We're not just interested in timely release of the funds, but its effective utilization so that every segment of the society, both the poor and the rich are captured.
"Meanwhile, the funds are conceived as a way of ensuring that family and individual expenditures, including out-of-pocket expenses are reduced.
"They're also meant to serve as shock absorber to cushion effects of financial incapacitation which may lead people resorting to unwholesome facilities and equipment, making them vulnerable to worse situations.
"Besides, no sick person should be confined in the house merely due to lack of money to access health facilities."
While lamenting lack of efficiency and effectiveness of services in the PHCs, Onyeka said the engagement would attempt to address every area of challenge.
"If government facilities are working effectively, individuals will not start going to where they will pay more, thereby negating the very essence of the fund.
"But what we see is not what is expected. That's the reason we're asking questions around drugs, environment and other logistics required for efficient service delivery.
"Government may not be able to solve all the problems in the PHCs immediately, and that is why support from communities and other stakeholders are required to complement what is available.
"We're optimistic that the outcome of the engagement will be useful in updating the drafts we came up with. The framework will definitely plug the loopholes in terms of timely fund releases and utilization," he stated.
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