Section 5 National Health Act

Section 5 National Health Act 2014 is about Functions of the National Council. It is under Part I (Responsibility for Health and Eligibility for Health Services and Establishment of National Health System) of the Act.

(1) The National Council, which shall be the highest policy making body in Nigeria on matters relating to health, shall—

(a) have responsibility for the protection, promotion, improvement and maintenance of the health of the citizens of Nigeria, and the formulation of policies and prescription of measures necessary for achieving the responsibilities specified under this paragraph ;

(b) offer advise to the Government of the Federation, through the Minister, on matters relating to the development of national guidelines on health and the implementation and administration of the National Health Policy ;

(c) ensure the delivery of basic health services to the people of Nigeria and prioritize other health services that may be provided within available resources ;

(d) advise the Government of the Federation on technical matters relating to the organization, delivery and distribution of health services ;

(e) issue, and promote adherence to, norms and standards, and provide guidelines on health matters, and any other matter that affects the health status of people ;

(f) identify health goals and priorities for the nation as a whole and monitor the progress of their implementation ;

(g) promote health and healthy lifestyles ;

(h) facilitate and promote the provision of health services for the management, prevention and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases ;

(i) ensure that children between the ages of zero and five years and pregnant women are immunized with vaccines against infectious diseases ;

(j) co-ordinate health services rendered by the Federal Ministry with health services rendered by the States, Local Governments, Wards, and private health care providers and provide such additional health services as may be necessary to establish a comprehensive national health system ;

(k) integrate the health plan of the Federal Ministry of Health and State Ministries of Health annually ; and

(l) perform such other duties as may be assigned to the National Council by the Minister.

(2) The National Council shall determine the time frames, guidelines and format for the formulation of the National and State Health Plans.

(3) The National Council shall be advised by the Technical Committee established under this Act.