MEDRAP Hails k23.17 Billion Allocation To Health Sector
Medicines Research and Access Platform (MEDRAP)says the allocation of K23.17 billion to the health sector in the 2025 National Budget, puts Zambia on the right trajectory of meeting its Abuja declaration commitment, signed in April 2001.
In his submission to the parliamentary committee on health, community development and social services in Lusaka, MedRAP National Coordinator Liyoka Liyoka said the funds which represent a 10.7% allocation of the total budget, is a step in the right direction.
Mr Liyoka stated that some of the notable developments from the budget include the recruitment of 2, 000 health workers, procurement of medical supplies and equipment as well as the allocations of funds to local authorities through the implementation of the decentralization policy that will see primary healthcare placed under councils.
He added that this is also a clear indication that the Ministry of Health intends to maintain the target of having qualified personnel at each health facility and has also set a target of 85 percent stock availability in health facilities.
“Despite the budget being below the threshold of the Abuja declaration, the allocation is progressive and a step in the right direction of meeting the set targets.”
“In consideration of where we are coming from and the drought situation in the country, the national budget has given a significantly fair share of its allocation to the health sector. Our main focus of interest will be to make sure that citizens, including youths, adolescents and especially vulnerable women and girls in rural Zambia that are mostly affected when it comes to sexual reproductive health services are covered and protected through the 2025 budget,” Mr Liyoka asserted.
He added that through the 2025 National Budget, Government has demonstrated its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through its National Vision 2030, which envisions a prosperous country where all Zambians have access to quality health services, including medicines.
He however observed that the budget has not allocated any funds towards treatment of cancer patients abroad.
Mr. Lyoka stressed the need for Government to place more premium on the investment of cancer treatment by optimising the availability of cost effective and efficacious chemotherapeutic agents through stakeholder alliances and lobbying for better market prices.
“There is need to expedite the completion of rehabilitation and modernisation of at least the Cancer Disease Hospital in Lusaka in good time to avert the cost of translocating our patients to other countries.”
He recommended that a supplementary budget be considered to help mitigate the anticipated increase in uptake of medicines and medical supplies.
“We submit that the drug budget should be devolved to support functions that were transferred to districts under the local authorities in the 2025 national budget.”
“We recommend that an additional 3,000 frontline health personnel be considered for recruitment in 2025. We also submit that a component of CDF towards health provision must be dedicated to alleviate the plight of adolescents at local level,” he stated.
In April 2001, Heads of State of the African Union (AU) met and pledged to set a target of allocating at least 15% of their annual budgets to the health sector.
