PHM-Exch> Nigeria National Health Bill

[Gbenga Adedayo]

National Health Bill (NHB): Nigeria and universal healthcare.

The health sector has not yielded its full benefit to Nigerians of all ages because there has been no legal and regulatory framework for effective planning, financing, governance, monitoring and evaluation of healthcare services by all tiers of government in the country.

The poor health status indicators are largely traceable to the absence of a legal and regulatory framework to effectively and efficiently co-ordinate and manage Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Nigerian 1999 constitution only referenced health in few sections (2nd and 4th schedules and in Section 17 subsection 3d as amended). There are really no significant constitutional provisions for health and the various levels of government have no prescribed constitutional obligation to provide quality healthcare to their constituents. This has frustrated the achievement of universal healthcare in the country.

All of these led to the consideration and passage of a National Health Bill which was first introduced in 2004. It took over 6 years before it was passed by the 6th National Assembly but later aborted by the non assent to the passed Bill By President Goodluck Jonathan. Since the President’s failure to assent to the Bill passed by the 6th National Assembly on May 19th 2011, a lot of Nigerian women and children have died from very avoidable causes.

However, there is a beam of hope after so many stakeholders (NGOs, CSOs, medical associations and the general public) clamored for the assent of the president and passage of the bill into law. The Senate Committee on Health took a positive step and called for public hearing on the National Health Bill. The public hearing on the National Health Bill (NHS) started on Monday 11th of January,  2013. This move aimed at ensuring Nigerians make their input towards the current bill aimed at addressing the challenges of the sector since independence.

“It is evident that the Primary Healthcare system would be reinvigorated through the implementation of the National Health Bill. The NHB defines the rights of health workers and users of health services/facilities and thus provide Nigerians an opportunity to hold government accountable for their health, rights including equitable access to healthcare. 

Acknowledgement: While this piece was largely borrowed from the write up of 'Alexander Chiejina' of Business Day (though with slight adjustment), it aims to bring recent development in Nigeria health sector to our notice at the PHM level.

Let us all lend our voice to the passage of this NHB...for those who can attend the public hearing, please do. 

Health for All will be a reality in Nigeria soon.

By: 'Gbenga Adedayo
        PHM Nigeria

'Gbenga Adedayo