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(LUSAKATIMES) Government increases funding to the health sector, abolishes primary health services fees

Government increases funding to the health sector, abolishes primary health services fees
TIME PUBLISHED - Friday, November 11, 2011, 4:16 pm
By Staff Reporter

The government has increase its funding to the health sector by 45 percent from this year’s K 1,772.9 billion to K2579.9 billion in 2012. The government has also abolished primary health services fees, meaning Zambians could now access free health services in clinics.

Speaking during the announcement of the K25 trillion 2012 budget, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the government will run the health sector in line with the Abuja Declaration to which Zambia is a signatory.

The Aduja Declaration demands that signatories commit 15 percent of their national budgets to the health sector.

The ministry is the largest recipient of donor funding but has in the past two years been hard hit by withdrawal of grants following poor accountability issues.

In the Abuja Declaration adopted at the 24-27 April 2001 summit, African leaders declared that AIDS was a state of emergency in the continent and pledged to place the fight against the pandemic at the forefront and as the highest priority issue in their respective national development plans.

They also committed to take personal responsibility and provide leadership for the activities of the National AIDS Commissions or Councils.

In his address, Mr Chikwanda announced also announced that the government has allocated K301.7 billion to the purchase of drugs and medical equipment.

Labels: BUDGET, HEALTHCARE, NURSES

posted by MrK @ 9:15 PM