Nigeria proposes steep basic healthcare budget cuts despite coronavirus

By Paul Carsten and Camillus Eboh
ABUJA, June 5 (Reuters) - Nigeria is proposing slashing its
basic healthcare funding by almost half as government finances
in Africa's biggest economy take a hit from the novel
coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices, according to the latest
budget proposal documents.
The planned healthcare cuts come as Nigeria's coronavirus
outbreak steadily worsens, and are part of a 2020 budget
revision carried out because of the pandemic. The government in
Africa's top oil exporter is dependent on crude sales for much
of its funding.
The government proposes cutting its basic healthcare funding
by 43% from its original 2020 budget to 25.6 billion naira ($71
million), according to the budget proposal, now with parliament
before final presidential approval.
Annually, basic healthcare has received at least 1% of
Nigeria's consolidated revenues fund, which makes up part of the
pool for the yearly budget and has been hit by lower oil
revenues.
A spokesman for the finance ministry, which handles the
budget, said basic healthcare "has improved and increased with
the interventions" to fight coronavirus, but did not provide
details.
The health ministry and chair of the upper house of
parliament's budget committee did not respond to requests for
comment. Presidency spokesmen declined to comment.
Nigeria, with more than 11,000 confirmed coronavirus cases
and more than 300 deaths, has earmarked 500 billion naira ($1.39
billion) to tackle the outbreak. But reduced funding for basic
healthcare threatens to undermine an already hollowed-out
medical system.
"It is only by strengthening basic routine services that
countries have resilience to cope in crisis ... our primary
healthcare is already weak," said Toyin Saraki, founder of the
Wellbeing Foundation Africa, a health-focused organisation.

($1 = 361.0000 naira)