The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced a major plan to strengthen healthcare delivery across the territory, including the establishment of a dedicated Infectious Disease Hospital and the revitalisation of the FCT Molecular Laboratory.
The initiative, unveiled on Thursday, also includes a renewed advocacy for allocating at least 15 per cent of the annual budget to health, in line with the Abuja Declaration, which calls for greater investment in national health systems across Africa.
As part of its commitments, the FCTA pledged to fully implement the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy, create dedicated budget lines for core health programmes, and fast-track the passage of two critical bills — the FCT Health Insurance Bill and the Private Health Establishment Registration and Monitoring Agency Bill.
These decisions were among the key resolutions adopted during the 2025 Health Sector Joint Annual Review and Performance Dialogue held in Abuja, where health stakeholders assessed progress and outlined new strategies to strengthen the FCT’s health system under the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
A communiqué jointly signed by Dr. Ahmadu Abubakar, Acting Director-General of the Hospital Management Board (representing the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat), and Dr. Dan Gadzama, Acting Director of the Public Health Department (representing the Permanent Secretary), confirmed that the meeting was presided over by Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat.
According to the communiqué, the review highlighted significant progress in key health indicators, including improved maternal and child health outcomes, expanded immunisation coverage, reduced HIV incidence, strengthened malaria response, and an increase in health insurance enrolment across the territory.
It also noted that the FCT had established a Health Workforce Registry and developed a five-year Human Resource Recruitment Plan (2025–2029) to address workforce gaps.
However, the review identified persistent challenges such as inadequate human resources, limited funding, weak data reporting from private health facilities, and delays in the passage of critical health legislation.
Stakeholders resolved to sustain and expand reforms, including:
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Full implementation of the PHCUOR policy.
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Creation of dedicated budget lines for key health programmes.
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Passage of the pending FCT Health Insurance and Private Health Establishment Bills.
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Establishment of an Infectious Disease Hospital.
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Revitalisation of the FCT Molecular Laboratory.
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Advocacy for a minimum 15 per cent health budget allocation in line with the Abuja Declaration.
According to the Voice of Nigeria, the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) remains a central component of the territory’s health financing strategy, designed to improve equitable access to quality care for all residents.
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