Misplaced priorities: Preventive care finds little space in health budget

77% of the development budget has been allocated to the ongoing schemes.

KARACHI:

The rising cases of hepatitis, HIV, naegleria and dengue, deteriorating condition of primary healthcare facilities and worrying condition of the overall health sector show no reflection in the Sindh government's budget for the fiscal year, 2015-16.

Only Rs1 billion have been allocated for preventive health care, while 77 per cent of the total development budget in the health sector has been set aside for the ongoing schemes. Interestingly, of the 119 ongoing and new schemes, 68 of them technically should have been completed by June 2015. The budget document states that only 22 of the schemes will be completed by June 2016.

Senior health officials claim it is the 'bureaucratic delays' that stops important projects from being finished on time. "Only 40 per cent of the development budget has been spent during the outgoing fiscal year," said a senior official, blaming the finance department of creating unnecessary hurdles.

The health department has not had a development secretary for the last six months. Separately, the department has been appointed its third secretary in the last six months. Experts have frequently warned the Sindh government about the nutritional status of children. Despite acknowledging the facts, the Sindh government has allocated just Rs153 million for the Nutrition Support Programme that is being supported by the World Bank and covers nine districts.

Game of numbers

The current revenue expenditure, excluding education and population welfare, has been increased by 32 per cent from Rs43.48 billion to Rs54billion. For medical education, Rs3.94 billion has been allocated while Rs3.4billion has been allocated for population welfare.

Grants

To provide better health services, the grant for the People's Primary Healthcare Initiative has been increased by 19 per cent from Rs2.73 billion to Rs3.26 billion. The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation will receive Rs3 billion, while separate allocations of Rs1.87 billion have been allocated for the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, Rs1.1 billion for the National Institute Cardiovascular Diseases, Rs300 million for the Indus Hospital and Rs500 for Institute of Medical Science Jacobabad.

Health experts

A majority of health facilities in the province lack qualified surgeons, physicians and specialists. Therefore, the provincial government has earmarked Rs500 million to hire them on a contract basis with better salary packages. The same amount has been allocated to procure equipment and machineries.

New initiatives

The health department plans to establish the SIUT Multi-Organ Transplant and Biological Centre in Karachi and has set aside Rs75 million for the purpose. They have also set aside Rs100 million to upgrade the Nuclear Institute of Medicine and Radiotherapy, Jamshoro and Rs100 million to construct the Talibul Moula Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Hala.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2015.