The Senate Committee on health has said for many years running, Nigeria’s Health sector has suffered gross neglect. Consequent upon this, legislators are pushing for an upward review of the budgetary allocation in the 2017 appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.
 
In a statement by the media office of the Nigerian Legislative Institute ( NILS), the lawmakers say, they are bothered by the country’s health indices, resulting from years of negligence; and particularly, the huge foreign exchange outflows for medical tourism.

Speaking during a Press Conference during the week in Abuja, the Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso said that “There shall be increased appropriation by the National Assembly to the health sector in the 2017, in line with the African Union Abuja declaration of 2001, which recommends that a minimum of 15% of total annual budget be dedicated to the health sector.“
 
He also disclosed that “the National Assembly will ensure that the provision of the National Health Act. 2014, which stipulates that 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) be dedicated to the health sector, is adhered to in the 2017 budget.”
 
He further expressed plans of the National Assembly, to initiate legislation that would make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) mandatory to all Nigerians.
 
On the issue of Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad, he said that a situation where the country has to spend over $1 billion on medical tourism is unacceptable to the 8th National Assembly.
 
He further described as grossly inadequate, a budget proposal on per capita basis of N1,525 per person/citizen, arguing that the amount cannot treat the commonest disease – malaria.
 
Sen. Tejuoso further assured that, henceforth, National Assembly would ensure that funds are not just spent on health but that there is effective oversight of the sector through efficient resource allocation and judicious utilization. He called for greater political will to accelerate resource allocation to the health sector.
 
Read more at http://www.leadership.ng/news/571381/2017-health-budget-grossly-inadequa...