The National Council on Health is considering for approval, the National Health Policy 2016 towards a successful implementation of the recently enacted National Health Act 2014 and the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said that the focus was to ensure speedy approval of the policy towards strategic inclusion in the 2017 budget for effective implementation.
He explained that its development became necessary following the trend of global health epidemics such as the Ebola virus and Nigeria’s continued need to attain a universal health coverage and accessible healthcare.
The National Health Policy, when approved, will mandate the revamping and construction of primary healthcare centres in each of the 10,000 political wards in the count
ry over the next three years.
This will give up to 100 million Nigerians access to basic and affordable health care services.
This National Health Policy 2016 under consideration by the National Health Council in Abuja, would be the third health policy to be developed and implemented in Nigeria after 1988 and 2004.
Intense deliberations are expected over issues such as the development of the second national strategic health development plan and the role of states in the operationalization of the National Heath Act.
