Health experts tell presidential aspirants to prioritize health

Aug 13, 2020

Dr Watiti pointed out that a lot of money is wasted treating government officials abroad and yet citizens plight on accessing healthcare is not addressed.

ELECTIONS

As the country gears towards the 2021 general elections health experts have called on presidential aspirants to put health as a top priority in their manifestos.They argued that health is a fundamental right.

"You cannot use a good road and electricity if your body is dead," Dr Stephen Watiti an HIV activist told reporters in reference to government priority programmes on roads and energy.

Dr Watiti pointed out that a lot of money is wasted treating government officials abroad and yet citizens plight on accessing healthcare is not addressed.

The health experts made remarks during a press conference held at Fellowship of Christian Unions (FOCUS) headquarters in Mulago, Kampala on  Wednessday.

 They argued that government has underfunded the health sector and yet it is critical for the development of the economy.
Out of the sh45 trillion national budget for 2020/2021, the minister finance Matia Kasaija allocated sh2.7 trillion to the ministry of health.

However, health experts say this is a drop in the ocean as it is less than 5% of the national budget and yet the Abuja declaration urges African governments to put 15% of their national budget to health.

According to the ministry of health expenditure report of 2014/15 the health budget grew in nominal terms by 4.7% on average and in real terms to  sh76.727b in 2014/2015 to sh86.549b in 2015/206.

Similarly, the health budget for the financial year 2020/2021 has increased from sh25 trillion in the financial year 2019/2020 to sh27 trillion this financial year reflecting a push of sh200b.

But the health experts are not satisfied saying the amount spent on health is too little to meet the barest minimum health package for Ugandans.

"The bulk of this cost is borne by donors and individuals as out-of-pocket expenditure. This results in poor health and it entrenches, poverty," Dr Emmanuel Luyirika, the director of African Palliative Care Association (APCA) told reporters.

He noted that severe and persistent under-funding of health is hurting Ugandans.The health experts pointed out that in 2016 government spent $123m (about sh455b) on the treatment of top officials in India alone.

They explained that the new 450 bed Mulago Women and Neonatal Hospital built from the foundation to finish and fully fitted with state-of-the art equipment including a newborn Intensive care unit (ICU) cost $25m (about 94.5b).

"This means that in 2016, Uganda donated at least the equivalent of five such hospitals to India," Dr Olive Kobusingye a research fellow at Makerere University and author said.

She pointed out that the resource envelope is adequate but the money is misappropriated by government officials as corruption bedevils the country.

She urged voters to demand that health is put as a priority if they are to vote a particular presidential aspirant with a convincing manifesto.The health experts urged government to abolish treatment of government officials abroad, although currently there are no flights allowed to operate due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The press conference was attended by Dr Richard Idro, the president of Uganda Medical Association who said the money used to treat government officiasl abroad should be invested to in the country to have a robust health care system.

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