THE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday decried the allocation of just 3.5 per cent of the 2016 budget to health, instead of the 15 per cent prescribed by the meeting of African Heads of States and Government, hosted by Nigeria in 2001.
To this end, the NMA called on the Federal Government, especially the National Assembly, to urgently review and revise the allocation of N221.7 billion to health ministry.
A statement signed by the NMA President, Dr Kayode Obembe and the Secretary General, Dr Adewunmi Alayaki, condemned the diminished allocation of 3.65 per cent in the 2016 budget, warning that this would not encourage the advancement of universal health coverage.
The statement said: “The association views with great dismay the sharp departure from the prescribed 15 per cent of the national budget for health made in 2001 in a meeting of African Heads of States and Government which Nigeria hosted in Abuja, observing that this deviation has posed a huge moral burden for the country in going against her own avowed commitment despite the emerging challenges and resultant burgeoning demands from the sector.
“Though not ignorant of the current realities of dwindling oil revenue and contracting fiscal space – a situation which the country has most unfortunately found herself, NMA is of the view that the markedly diminished allocation of 3.65 per cent in the 2016 budget would never encourage the advancement of universal health coverage which is the only panacea towards improving availability, access, quality and efficiency of the health services to reduce the disparaging health indices which continue to malign the image of our country in the comity of nations.
“We are also in shock as the 60 billion (equivalent of at least one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund) envisaged to accrue as the Basic Health Provision Fund as enshrined in the National Health Act 2014 was conspicuously absent from the budget proposal as presented.
“Coming at this auspicious occasion of budgeting under the reassuring change mantra, it is our considered opinion that Nigeria should show the way and provide leadership in Africa after having failed in this regard since 2001.”
“Facts from available evidence show that whereas 33% of countries have allocated at least 10% of their national budget to health with only Tanzania, Rwanda, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Malawi and Central African Republic attaining 15%, Nigeria has been revolving between 3% and 6%.
“The association is also dismayed that contrary to the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that national budgets should allocate the equivalent of 6,908.00 per head (General Government Health Expenditure (GGHE) per Capita), reports from the World Bank reveal that the 2016 federal budget only provided for 1448.00 ($7.55 at $1=¦ 197) representing a retrogression from 1,546.00 in 2015 and 1,653.00 in 2014.
“This presents a precarious situation as all other contributions from state and local governments; donor agencies and other sources cannot bridge the deficit of ¦ 5,460.00 in this regard.
“It is on this premise that we call on the National Assembly as the only organ that could mitigate this looming disaster in the healthcare delivery sector in 2016 at this juncture, to look dispassionately without any partisan sentiments at what should be done to substantially increase the allocation to the health ministry in order to deliver better healthcare to the Nigerian people.”
