RETREAT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEALTH FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH AND APPROPRIATION COMMITTEES OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HELD IN MIDRAND — SOUTH AFRICA 28-29TH NOVEMBER, 2016
We the Members of the Health and Appropriation Committees of the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives meeting on 28th and 29th November for a retreat on the significance of health for national development at the Pan African Parliament — Midrand South Africa:
Cognisant of the relationship between healthcare and economic development as well as the role of human capital in achieving developmental goals especially in emerging democracies of Africa.
Concerned that the modest economic progress made by African countries has been impeded by the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and maternal deaths among others. These are further worsened by natural disasters, rise in insurgency and political unrest.
Further worried by the failure of many African countries to meet up with the minimum requirement of allocating 15% of total annual budget to health as outlined in the Abuja Declaration of 2001 which has resulted in a marked health statistics underperformance across the continent.
Committed to improving public health by increasing access to good quality, safe and effective medicines.
Further Interested in achieving the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Thankful for the presence and contributions of Hon. David Chapfika (MP, Zimbabwe) and Hon. Njabulo W. Mabuza (MP, Swaziland).
Cognisant of the need to strengthen the effectiveness of health budgeting and spending in Nigeria observe the following:
1) The poor state of the health condition in Nigeria is attributable to policy inconsistencies, inadequate funding and insufficient health statistics which hamper effective planning;
2) Legislations are essential to support health policy outcomes
3) Effective funding and legislative oversight of the health sector are essential to the transformation of Nigeria’s health sector. In this regard, legislators and legislative committees have a role of monitoring national budget performances and ensuring that budgets address key health issues;
4) Budget scrutiny by parliaments is essential for both equitable and efficient use of scarce resources;
5) Effective engagement with the private sector is essential to meeting health targets and ensuring national development
6) An enabling regulatory environment is important for the greater and beneficial private sector engagement. to deliver quality, safe and efficacious medical products and technologies to the African communities; and
7) Regional and global partnership is critical to harmonizing medical products regulation
Now therefore, we the Members of the Health and Appropriation Committees of Nigeria National Assembly meeting in Midrand, South Africa on the 28th and 29th November, 2016 hereby resolve as follows:
1) That there shall be increased appropriation by the National Assembly to the health sector in 2017 in line with the Abuja Declaration of 2001 which recommends that a minimum of 15% of the total annual budget be dedicated to health;
2) That the National Assembly will ensure that the provision of the National Health Act, 2014 which stipulates that 1% of the consolidated revenue fund be dedicated to the health sector is adhered to in the 2017 budget.
3) That the National Assembly will improve its oversight of the health sector and health expenditure spending and ensure judicious management of resources allocated to health particularly given the decline in oil revenues;
4) That greater political will to accelerate resource allocation to health and ensure that the sector is among the top five priority areas in the national budget;
5) That Government must provide an enabling regulatory environment as well as a model for public private partnership to ensure the delivery quality, safe and efficacious medical products and technologies;
6) That the National Assembly will initiate a legislation to make NHIS mandatory to all Nigeria that ensures that all Nigerians are able to access with ease at least primary health care facilities;
7) That the National Assembly will support Government’s proposal to build 10,000 primary health care centres across the country in the 2017 budget.
8) That there should be an increased funding for all professional and regulatory agencies and councils;
9) That greater coordination of health intervention efforts is essential to ensuring accountability and guarantee that health funding reaches the intended beneficiaries;
10)That Nigeria should encourage the harmonization of drug regulations across the ECOWAS sub-region and subsequently the continent as a whole.
11)That the National Assembly will ensure the domestication of the NEPAD and Africa’s Health Policy-AMRH and Model Law in Nigeria.
Adopted this day, 29th November, 2016, at the Pan-African Parliament, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sen. Lanre Tejuosho Hon. Senate Committee on Health Deputy Chairman,
Muhammad Umar Jega Chairman, House Committee on Health
