A Review of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCF) and Primary Health Care Assessment in Plateau State (Published)
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is a direct financial investment that funds Primary Healthcare (PHC), initiated by the federal government of Nigeria to improve the quality of services given to Nigerians. This study reviewed the BHCPF and PHCs assessment in Plateau State. This study was designed to know the level of influence of BHCPF and PHC on Plateau citizens across all the 17 LGAs in terms of healthcare. A desk review and longitudinal research designs were carried out on data already generated. The reviewed study adopted a mixed method design. The findings indicate that the general condition of most of the PHC facilities is an issue and there is also inadequate skilled manpower in the hospitals, long waiting hours, high cost of health services, lack of drugs and inadequate space. To reposition the BHCPF to better achieve its full objectives in Plateau State, the researchers recommended that Funding, Accountability and Transparency, Awareness Creation, Public-Private Partnership among other aspects discussed, be redefined in an updated policy version of the BHCPF the government is advised to begin the process on.
Keywords: basic health care provision fund, consolidated revenue fund, plateau state, primary health care, ward health system, ward minimum health care package