NCP Approves Draft Health Sector Reform Bill

Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo

The National Council on Privatization (NCP) Tuesday approved a draft legislative instrument to enact the Health Sector Reform Bill and associated legislation.

The council approved the instrument at its meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Alex Oko, said the document would be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He said the proposed legislation makes it imperative for millions of Nigerians, who can’t afford to pay for it, to receive efficient healthcare services.

The BPE boss, who is also the secretary of the NCP, said the council “took a major decision to adopt the report with the regards to the reform of the healthcare delivery system in the country.”

He said the council deliberated on the report of the consultant and took a decision to continue engagements with various sectors and stakeholders with regards to the health sector reform.

“What is very clear is the COVID-19 pandemic situation globally has revealed certain lapses and challenges as far as the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is concerned and that council in its wisdom has actually started to consider a total review of the health sector about a year ago pre the advent of the COVID-19 crisis.

“So, council took a decision the stake-holding engagement should continue especially since this reform promises a major universal coverage of healthcare delivery to the generality of Nigerians.

“What we are looking at essentially is a situation where the citizens of to country do not have to pay to receive quality healthcare because ailments and health issues are not what anybody will wish upon himself.“So, we should not leave people to their own fate once they have a health challenge.

“It is far-reaching and radical reforms and we hope with the continued engagements with all the stakeholders, we should be able to deliver this as a legacy reform programme of this current administration,” he said.