The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of $1.07 billion in financing for healthcare sector reforms under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) program.

Briefing newsmen after FEC meeting on Monday, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who reeled out some of the Council’s approvals, revealed that the World Bank’s Concessional financing arm, the International Development Association (IDA), has provided two concessional loans of $500 million each, alongside $70 million in grant funding from other international bodies.

Our Correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that as part of broader healthcare reforms, the council also approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs over the next four months.

Prof. Pate emphasized that the Nigerian government is committed to transitioning to national systems of healthcare financing and ensuring the sustainability of health programs through domestic resources.

Furthermore, the Health Minister said FEC discussed the implications of recent U.S. policy changes on Nigeria’s health programs, particularly regarding HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria funding. He noted that a multi-ministerial committee, including representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Defense, and Environment, as well as the Governors’ Forum, has been tasked with developing a transition and sustainability plan to mitigate potential funding disruptions.

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