The Senate on Wednesday, 28th September 2022, read for the third time and passed the National Health Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The bill is sponsored by Senator Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC; Kwara). The amendment aims to provide for civil society participation in the National Council for Health, which is the highest policy making body in Nigeria on health issues. It also reviewed the funding of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund upwards and provides financing for emergency services and health security.
The bill amends sections 4 and 11 of the National Health Act 2014. It amends section 11 to introduce a representative of a relevant civil society organisation appointed by the Minister of Health into the National Council on Health established by the principal Act. The National Council is chaired by the Minister of Health, as provided in the Act. However, this amendment now empowers the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health to preside over the affairs of the National Council in a situation where the President does not constitute a Federal Executive Council. This is to address the lacuna that may be created in the membership and operation of the Council, in the event that the President fails to appoint a Health Minister.
The bill further amends the principal Act to increase the proportion of the Consolidated Revenue Fund that goes into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund from 1% to 2%. It introduces a National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance system to be funded by 3.5% of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and managed by the National Emergency Medical and Ambulance Service Agency. In addition, the amendment provides for 1.5% of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to be used by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for health security.