Allocate more funds to health sector, govt urged
AS the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, prepares to present the 2022 National Budget, civil society organisations have higher expectations in the allocation of funds to various sectors.
Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRA) is one such an organisation with higher expectations.
Executive Director Liyoka Loyola says, his organisation expects the Ministry of Health to have a fair share in the allocation of resources.
Mr Loyola said in Livingstone yesterday that the Ministry of Health must develop comprehensive strategies to progressively increase government budget allocation towards Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) commodities and services.
According to him, this would significantly increase access to a number of lifesaving commodities.
He said strategies include the Zambia Road Map for Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal, New-born, and Child Mortality and the Integrated Family Planning Scale-Up Plan.
Mr Liyoka said that the government should fully fund the implementation of these plans.
“Increase financing of family planning commodities through National Health Insurance Authority (NHIMA)
accredited facilities
“The recently launched National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is a key step toward Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
He added that the benefits package covers contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and emergency contraception.
Mr Liyoka said that members of the National Insurance Scheme receive covered family planning methods for free at all accredited facilities in the programme.
“This is contributing to FP commodities financing. The FP commodities are included in the benefits package and can be financed at all levels of care,” he revealed.
Mr Liyoka said once financial allocation was adequate, the Total Market Approach (TMA) for FP commodities would ease the burden on the government for financing of FP commodities.
“For example, the TMA Landscape Assessment report in 2017 revealed that mid-market commercial condom brands were available and gaining popularity.