Reduction in Health Budget Raises Concerns Among Health Industries
by Hamna Bano
SHARES
After the Government’s announcement of decreasing the health budget to half, there has been a lot of concern seen among the general public and the health industry.
On Thursday, 9 June 2022 the Federal Government announced that the current financing for healthcare will be halved in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. On the other hand, new projects will be receiving only the leftovers.
As reported by resources, The National Health Services Ministry will get a total of Rs 14 billion, This will all be received in the next fiscal year that begins on July 1.
According to the Public Sector Development Program (PSPD) 2022-23 this year it was supposed to be Rs 21.7 billion. This has been done by the administration of Shehbaz Sharif in order to fill the empty public treasures.
Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, Surgeon and Secretary-General of Pakistan Medical Association stated that “all prior governments also kept the health budget below one percent of the total budget. In contrast, the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that six percent of GDP should be allocated to health. "But if they choose to reduce this amount as well, I believe they have left the health sector with nothing,”
Watch: 'Reductions in health budget will impede progress made': Cash-strapped federal government says that current financing for healthcare will be roughly halved in the 2022-23 fiscal year #news #newspakistan pic.twitter.com/4af3XW0tdw
— Toufaani (@Toufaani) June 9, 2022
Regarding the budget allotment, he added that, “the budget is not allocated and handled effectively, and that it is not utilized with integrity. While the government is cutting down costs and attempting to lift the country out of its economic crisis, health and education should not be neglected, and the current budget should be maintained, if not enhanced.”
The primary health sector is right now arguing to use the present budget to build small neighborhood hospitals rather than ‘wasting money on the inauguration of new facilities.
