A bill to make it compulsory for the federal government to provide free health care services for children in Nigeria has passed a second reading in the house of representatives.
Sponsored by a legislator, Mr. Bello Kaoje (APC, Kebbi), the legislation titled, ‘A bill for an act to make health care service delivery free for all children in Nigeria and for related matters’ was read for the first time on July 8.
If passed, the bill will mandate government hospitals to provide free medical services for children including diagnoses, treatment, prevention of illness and other physical and mental illnesses in children.
The general principle of the bill was debated by members of the House on Wednesday and passed despite opposition from some members.
Leading the debate on the bill at the plenary on Wednesday, Kaoje stated that children’s health needs were significantly different from those of adults.
“By nature, children grow and develop at rapid rates, placing them at special risk of being affected by illness and injury.
“If health problems are not identified and treated, they can affect a child’s cognitive, physical, behavioural and emotional development.
“With the federal government’s health care initiative, Save One Million Lives, it is important make free medical services for children in Nigeria,” he said.
He said free services “shall cover referral cases of children from states, local government hospitals and any other private hospital in Nigeria.”
Clause four of the bill provides that when/if the bill is passed, the ministry of health will make definite procedures, guidelines, as well as monitor and implement the provisions in the bill.
In his contribution, the minority leader, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) said the bill was seeking what he described as “duplication of functions” as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is already saddled with the responsibility.
He added that the parliament allocates funds to the agency annually to do that same function.
Countering Elumelu, speaker of the house, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila said those speaking against the bill should provide evidence that there is a provision in the 2022 money bill for free healthcare for children.
“What I will like to see is a line item in the budget that provides free delivery of children,” he said, adding that the bill is in line with section 17 of the 1999 Constitution.
Also speaking on the bill, the deputy minority leader, Mr. Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) said the matter is an issue of “separation of responsibility between the three tiers of government”.
“I will like to get enlightened on the federal government being responsible for primary healthcare that is also being done by the local government or the state so that when we are talking about restructuring, we should put that into consideration,” he said.
Solomon Muren (PDP, Plateau) argued that making laws that the executive cannot implement is akin to “ridiculing the parliament.”
He noted that the issues surrounding funding must be sorted out.
“The bill is very important, but as members of parliament, we have a duty to make laws that are implementable by the executive arm. Mr. Speaker, yes it may be in the National Primary Healthcare Act as a clause, to provide free healthcare. The mover of this bill should be able to bring forth – what is the statistics of children in this country?
“We make the budget and we also make the law. If we do not have sufficient provision in our budget that will support what we are trying to do, we will be helping to put up laws that are not implementable in this country. I think this bill should be stepped down,” he said.
Speaking in support of the bill, Mr. Gudaje Kazaure (APC, Jigawa) said the bill is vital to the nation by guaranteeing free healthcare for children in Nigeria.
Following a voice vote on the bill, it was passed and referred to the House Committee on Healthcare for further legislative action.
