AFRO-NETS> 'National Health Accounts' - A new addition to Nigeria's health lexicon

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

'National Health Accounts' - A new addition to Nigeria's health lexicon
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Thanks to Dr. Eyitayo Lambo, Health Economist and Nigeria's new 
Federal Minister of Health, a new term - National Health Ac-
counts - has been added to health lexicon in the country.
 
In a country not previously known to enunciate any public pol-
icy on financial management in health, the new Health Minister 
has proposed as part of his health sector reform agenda to: 
a) "Construct a National Health Account (NHA) and institution-
   alise NHA wherein sources of funds and expenditure profiles 
   would be open; and use the results of the NHA to develop a com-
   prehensive national health care financing policy and strategy;
 
b) Develop and implement strategies to improve efficiencies in 
   the use of financial resources through better allocations, bet-
   ter control, supervision and accountability;
 
c) Develop and implement a new blueprint on the national health 
   insurance scheme;
 
d) Undertake a strong advocacy for increased budgetary alloca-
   tion for health at all levels; and 
 
e) Increase financial resources to the health sector while im-
   proving their management." 
 
For a basic understanding of National Health Accounts, see:
 
Pearson,M. National Health Accounts: What are they and how can 
we use them? IHSD, June 2000. DFID Health Systems Resource Cen-
tre 
http://www.healthsystemsrc.org/publications/Briefing_papers/NHA%20June00.pdf
 
and
 
Poullier, J.P. et al: National Health Accounts: Concepts, data 
sources and methodology WHO Evidence and Information for Policy 
Cluster. Discussion Paper, 02/47. 2002 
http://www3.who.int/whosis/discussion_papers/pdf/paper47.pdf
 
More comprehensive online resources on the subject are avail-
able at these websites:
LAC Health Accounts http://www.lachealthaccounts.org/
 
World Bank's HSD National Health Accounts page: 
http://www1.worldbank.org/hnp/hsd/nha_index.asp
 
To direct specific questions to an expert on the subject, go 
to: 
"Ask-the-Expert" at: 
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/message_board/asktheexpert.asp
 
 
A. Odutola 
Centre for Health policy & Strategic Studies
Lagos, Nigeria 
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com

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