The House of Representatives has called for the establishment of a Healthcare Trust Fund to address the funding gaps in the health sector. This move is in response to the withdrawal of donor support by the United States government.
Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, emphasized the need for a trust fund, citing the success of similar initiatives in the education sector, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
“A lot of countries in Africa are struggling at this moment. I just came back from Tanzania on the issue of health and materials. So, I think there is a need. Like we have an education fund, we need a healthcare trust fund to address the funding gaps in the health sector,” Ogah said.
Minister of Health, Mohammed Pate, assured that the federal government is taking steps to address funding gaps in healthcare delivery. He noted that while the withdrawal of donor support by the US was sudden, some government initiatives in the health sector are already yielding positive results.
“The initiatives and interventions by the government in healthcare delivery have helped to mitigate the impact of the withdrawal of funding for certain health programs by the US government on Nigeria,” Pate explained.
The proposed Healthcare Trust Fund is expected to provide a sustainable source of funding for the health sector, enabling the government to better address the healthcare needs of Nigerians.
