NGOs want 2% of national budget allocated to health research

With budget discussions on course, civil society organisations have embarked on a move to have all East African member countries boost their health financing towards research and development.

Speaking at the East African domestic financing for health consultative meeting, the CSOs from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi zeroed down on a 2% budget allocation to health research.

According to Pauline Irungu from PATH this can only be made possible with the establishment of a research commission.

“We need to establish a research commission, to monitor EAC member countries contributions and operations because at the end of the day accountability is key," Irungu said.

Dr. Sam Okware suggested that every health-related activity should allocate 2% to research and Development

"If government can give tax holidays to investors why not do the same to health researchers. This could motivate more researchers," he said.

In the 1950’s, Global Health Research and Development's investment of $26 million towards the polio vaccine resulted into cost savings worth $180 billion.

The world now is on the verge of eradicating polio due to developments and delivery of polio vaccines.

The CSOs also recalled that Uganda is signatory to the Algiers declaration which called upon governments to allocate 2% of their  national budgets to health research.