Kenya - Ministries of health received a minor boost in budget allocation this financial year. The ministry of public health will be allocated a total of Sh23.95 billion up from Sh20.01 billion in the last financial year. The ministry of medical services on the other hand, received Sh25.76 billion up from Sh25.71 billion in the last financial year. In his budget statement, Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta said Sh903 million will be earmarked for purchase of ARVs. The government made a similar allocation in the last financial year but more than 80 per cent of ARVs in Kenya are still financed by donors.

Uhuru said Sh150 million will be used to purchase modern equipments for screening cervical and breast cancer.

"I have also all located from this amount Sh534 million toward finalization of rehabilitation of health facilities initiated under the economic stimulus programmed," he said.

He said Sh6.6 billion will be channeled toward enhanced immunization coverage throughout the country.

Health practitioners, while welcoming the small hike, noted the budget still falls less than 15 per cent of the Abuja target African presidents agreed in 2001.

The allocation last financial year was approximately 6.5 percent of government expenditure to health.

"An increment in Kenya's health care budget to 15 per cent, would mean increment in the number of nurses, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and clinical officers in our hospitals," said Boniface Chitayi, the Secretary General of the Kenya Medical, Pharmacists and Dentist Union.

Handicap International's technical consultant in charge of advocacy Daniel Aghan welcomed the allocations to ARVs and cancer.

He however said the health budget fell short of expectation. "Many hospitals do not have personnel and drugs. People with disabilities will still suffer because their programmes are poorly funded," he said.

Aghan said the country has twice signed declarations which require commitment of 15 per cent of total expenditure to health.

These are the Maputo Protocol and the Abuja Declaration. " Why sign the treaties if you are not intending to fulfill them."

John Muchangi

Nairobi Star/10/06/2011