‘NASS appropriates Special fund for Cervical, Breast, Prostrate Cancers’
The 8th National Assembly has appropriated money for the support and financing of treatment by people suffering from cervical, breast and prostrate cancers.
The special fund would come under Catastrophic Health Fund to support the financing of the three top range of cancers in Nigeria.
The fund will be available only for those deemed poor and vulnerable.
The chairman Senate committee on health, Senator Lanre Tejuoso made this known to reporters during free medical fair in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Saturday.
Tejuoso who the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial district, added that said the Senate which he had been part of passed the remarkable laws for the very first time in the history of Nigeria.
The Senator who was represented by his media aide, Toba Ogunremi said the impactful laws were passed under his leadership of Health Committee of the 8th National Assembly.
According to him, the laws also support the improved service provision like the Pharmacy act, and non communicable diseases.
He noted that he is also responsible for the law passage of the Pharmacy act and Non Communicable Diseases.
He maintained that the Eighth Assembly of which he has been part of, appropriated for the first time the BHCPF in the 2018 appropriation
He said: “It is important to emphasize that this was not included in the appropriation estimates submitted to the National Assembly in 2018.
” I want to tell you that the National Assembly is in the final process of passing the legislative framework that will make Health Insurance MANDATORY in Nigeria.”
He noted that the federal capital Territory, health insurance and SPHCDA are also included.
According to him, the National Assembly revised the PCN Act to support task shifting endeavors and also to promote private investments in the pharma sector.
He said: “Sustained financing for Immunization and Nutrition , for the first time in history Nigeria has a USD250M financing to address stunting and counterpart funding for UNICEF for RUTF fully paid.”
He lamented the inadequate physicians employed in both public and private health facilities.
”The World Health Organisation (WHO), the ideal requirement in doctor-patient ratio should be one doctor to 600 patients, it is pathetic that one doctor presently attends to more than 6,000 patients in this country”.
