Increased health budget should ensure quality services
What you need to know:
The issue: Increased health budget.
Our view: The increased allocation should reflect in the quality of services offered in health facilities and also increase access to care.
The Minister of Finance, Mr Matia Kasaija, on Thursday announced that the Budget for the health sector has been significantly increased in the 2025/2026 Financial Year to Shs5.8 trillion, up from Shs2.9 trillion in the previous Financial Year. This is a good development and indicates prioritisation of the essential services required by the taxpayers amid the reduced donor support. The health sector has been heavily relying on donor support. The increased allocation should reflect in the quality of services offered in health facilities and also increase access to care. This will be possible if the government does its work with transparency and remains accountable while fighting the vice of corruption.
It is, however, important to note that the government still expects a significant portion of this Budget to be funded through donors such as the Global Fund and the US government, specifically the aid for purchasing ARVs and life-saving interventions, even as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) phases out. Although allocating Shs5.8 trillion (7.8 percent of the National Budget) to the health sector is a good move, it still falls short of the 15 percent Abuja Declaration target. According to the Opposition, key issues in the sector include high out-of-pocket health expenditures (41 percent), frequent stock-outs of essential medicines, and inadequate funding for primary healthcare, mental health, and emergency response systems.
The health workforce is critically understaffed, with one doctor per 25,000 people, far below the WHO recommendation of 1:1,000. Maternal and child health outcomes also remain poor, according to the Opposition. Minister Kasaija highlighted seven areas of focus which would ensure better functionality of health facilities and the introduction of advanced care. The seven priorities for the next financial year include functionalising Health Centre IVs (HCIVs), which are nearer to communities, thus increasing access to care. HCIVs have been in existence in the country, but many of them struggle with limited staffing, lack of equipment, absenteeism of staff and shortage of drugs.
These elements should be addressed as the government moves to increase functionality. Mr Kasaija also said the other priority interventions are: Strengthening primary healthcare and community health services, scale-up of national e-health infrastructure, promotion of nutrition education and reproductive health, continued deployment of community health extension workers, strengthening the national ambulance and emergency referral system, and construction of specialised health facilities for cancer and cardiovascular (heart) care.
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