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— Calls for Stronger Oversight, Accountability, and Direct Anti-Corruption Links in Health Sector

The Health Anti-Corruption Project Advisory Committee (HAPAC) has raised serious concerns over widespread corruption in Nigeria’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), warning that mismanagement and fraudulent practices have severely diminished the value and impact of over ₦110 billion, or about $68.3 million, invested by the federal government since 2018 to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the country.

The revelation comes amid rising public scrutiny following the federal government’s recent disbursement of another ₦32.9 billion, approximately $22 million, to 13,000 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) nationwide.

The allocation prompted the Minister of Health, Professor Mohammed Pate, to issue his now-famous “red letter,” urging intensified anti-corruption efforts and greater accountability in the use of public health funds.

HAPAC’s Chairperson, Dr. Idris Muhammad, expressed strong support for the Minister’s call for vigilance, noting that corruption within the BHCPF has eroded the fund’s objectives of improving primary healthcare and providing health insurance for the poor and vulnerable.

He disclosed that findings from HAPAC’s investigations revealed deeply rooted corruption, including collusion between community monitors and facility officers to divert funds, the use of a single receipt to obtain money from two different gateways, and instances where healthcare workers falsified community stakeholders’ signatures to withdraw funds without their knowledge.

According to HAPAC’s convenor, Professor Obinna Onwujekwe, the rot extends beyond the facilities to the state primary healthcare development agencies (SPHCDAs), which he said are overstepping their boundaries and contributing to the mismanagement of the BHCPF.

He explained that there is evidence showing that SPHCDAs direct facility managers on how and when to spend their allocations, sometimes even providing specific bank details for payments. He also revealed that SPHCDAs procure medicines for facilities in clear violation of BHCPF guidelines and often fail to adhere to Nigeria’s public procurement regulations.

HAPAC’s Deputy Chairperson, Dr. Tarry Asoka, expressed concern about the lack of mechanisms for facility officers to report these abuses, stressing that PHCs must be empowered to report discreetly when SPHCDAs overreach or misuse BHCPF resources.

He said that corruption in the system undermines the entire purpose of the fund, which is to bring quality healthcare closer to communities and ensure the poor and vulnerable receive adequate medical attention.

In response to these challenges, HAPAC called for urgent reforms to strengthen transparency and accountability within the BHCPF.

The group urged the establishment of direct communication links between health facilities and anti-corruption officers within the health ministry and national anti-corruption agencies. It also emphasized the need for continuous training and retraining of health workers and managers on procurement ethics, financial transparency, and compliance with BHCPF regulations.

Furthermore, HAPAC advocated for enforceable penalties for violations of the fund’s guidelines and proposed the revamping of the central medical stores to ensure centralized medicine procurement. The committee believes this would make expenditures easier to track, bring transparency to medicine pricing, and reduce the risks of counterfeit or substandard drugs entering the health system from the open market.

Dr. Muhammad stressed that if the BHCPF is to achieve its intended impact, Nigeria must prioritize integrity and accountability at every level of implementation.

He warned that corruption not only devalues the billions invested but also endangers the lives of millions of Nigerians who rely on the public healthcare system for survival. “Corruption diminishes not only the value of the funds but also the lives of Nigerians who depend on these services,” he said. “We must match investment with integrity.”

HAPAC, a coalition that brings together academics, civil society organisations, media professionals, health practitioners, and anti-corruption experts, reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption in Nigeria’s health sector through evidence-based advocacy and policy engagement.

The committee insisted that unless urgent measures are taken to restore transparency in the BHCPF, Nigeria risks continuing the cycle of waste, inefficiency, and suffering that has long plagued its primary healthcare system.

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