Assessment of the Progress of the Implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund in South East States of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is expected to fund the delivery of a minimum package of healthcare services to Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable. Objectives: This study was designed to commence the assessment of the progress of the processes of the implementation of the fund, and the challenges encountered by operators of the Primary Health Care (PHC) system in the Southeast. Materials and Methods: This survey conducted between February-August, 2020 entailed recruitment, training of independent investigators, and deployment of tracking survey tools to independent monitors and managers of the BHCPF of the States including the PHC Agencies and Facility Managers. Results were collated and validated in a virtual meeting of public and independent monitors. The study focused on the PHC Facilities in the Southeast States of Nigeria. Results: The findings indicate a shaky and delayed start of implementation of the BHCPF in five surveyed States, mainly due to a collection of reasons including non-compliance to processes of the operational guideline; inadequate number, and mix crop of Human Resources for Health (HRH); Inadequate management capacity of supervising agencies to ensure adherence to the guidelines; poor management capacities of Officers in Charge (OICs); conflicts between Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and OICs; extremely low-level awareness of the availability of BHCPF in the communities of the States surveyed Conclusion: These issues arising from the take-off and implementation of BHCPF warrant continuing capacity building and supervision of the programme. Certain States are at lower readiness to access the fund due to the alluded complicated processes.