Enrollment quota in health institutions increases to 64,000- Minister
By Innocent Raphael
The enrollment quota for medical, nursing, and other health professional institutions in Nigeria has significantly increased.
This was announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.
Speaking on Friday at a ministerial press briefing marking the one-year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Pate revealed that the annual enrollment quota has risen from 28,000 to 64,000.
He emphasized that this increase is a critical step towards addressing the impact of the ongoing exodus of Nigerian health workers.
“The education sector will have to play its role. The states will have to improve the infrastructure, the training, and the tools to produce more healthcare workforce because we need to produce more healthcare workforce given that we’re losing some so that we can serve the population of this country,” he stated.
Highlighting advancements in primary health care, Pate reported that at least 1,400 centers are now equipped to provide skilled birth attendants.
He revealed that over 2,400 health workers, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, are being recruited to deliver essential health services in rural areas.
The Minister also disclosed the disbursement of the first tranche of N25 billion from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Health Insurance Authority.
He noted that 23 states have already received these funds, with more expected to comply with guidelines to access the resources.
“We put a condition that states that will access those funds have to comply with the guidelines that have been provided, responding to lapses that have been observed over here so that the resources go to Nigerians,” he explained.
The Minister reiterated the federal government’s commitment to training and building the capacity of more health workers to enhance the nation’s healthcare system.
