In a statement yesterday, Community Working Group on Health director Mr Itai Rusike said despite the increase in the amount allocated to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the amount remains inadequate to fund critical needs in the health sector.
He said the amount fails to meet the 15 percent health budget allocation stipulated by the Abuja Declaration of 2001. Said Rusike:
In nominal terms the health budget appropriation has remained largely stagnant at about 9 percent of the total budget expenditure, less than 15 percent of the Abuja target. Moreover, the bulk of the resources will be channelled towards financing employment costs leaving very little for capital expenditure, despite strong expressions of the social priority placed on adequate standards of health and health care.
According to the organisation which represents various health non-governmental organisations, the Health Ministry needs to manage the funds closely to ensure people have access to quality health.
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