NATIONAL | The health sector is facing a staggering Shs1.776 trillion budget shortfall for the financial year 2025/26, raising serious concerns about the future of health service delivery in the country.
The Ministry of Health had requested Shs3.2 trillion, but the allocated budget falls significantly short, threatening critical programs and potentially leaving the populace to grapple with severe inadequacies.
The parliamentary health committee, presenting its report on budget allocation, highlighted the dire situation, pointing to the withdrawal of funding by donors, including the impact of past executive orders from a leader who previously held high office in the United States.
Committee members noted that this withdrawal has already created a Shs604 billion gap in funding for essential health programs.
Key areas facing substantial shortfalls include:
- HIV/Aids: Shs243.2 billion
- Malaria Control: Shs121 billion
- Human Resource Support: Shs67.8 billion
- Tuberculosis: Shs60.2 billion
- Health Information System: Shs36.9 billion
- Health Care Waste Management: Shs22.2 billion
- Laboratory Systems: Shs35.4 billion
- Nutrition Services: Shs16.5 billion
- Neglected Tropical Diseases: Shs0.78 billion
Dr Joseph Ruyonga, the chairperson of the health committee, emphasized the severity of the situation, explaining that even crucial counterpart funding for HIV (Shs5.3 billion) and emergency services (Shs3 billion) have not been allocated resources.
Addressing Parliament, Dr Ruyonga stated, "The impact of the withdrawal of support to health services is already taking a toll on our health budget, leaving us with a significant shortfall. Key services that are vital for the well-being of our citizens are lacking the necessary funding."
Members of Parliament voiced their deep concerns over the potential ramifications of this budget crisis.
They raised issues regarding the increasing instances of wrong diagnostics, particularly in areas like cancer screening, and questioned the inadequate funding for Health Centre IVs and hospitals.
One legislator questioned the logic behind allocating funds for reagents for a cancer screening machine when the purchase of the machine itself was not budgeted for.
“How do you provide money for reagents of a PET machine for early detection of cancer and you don’t budget for the money to purchase the machines?" asked Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
"Shs4bn is for reagents and Shs35bn for opening centres, why open centres without equipment?”
PET scanner or PET (Positron Emission Tomography) machine is commonly used in the early detection and monitoring of cancer, as they help visualise how tissues and organs are functioning.
Several ministers, speaking candidly to the parliamentary sitting, admitted the dire state of healthcare in their constituencies.
They painted a grim picture of struggling referral hospitals and traumatising ambulance systems with severely limited service provision.
Ministers such as Hanifa Kawooya and Musa Ecweru echoed these sentiments, emphasising the potential suffering of ordinary citizens.
The Deputy Speaker pressed the Minister of Finance to provide an explanation for the apparent inconsistencies in Budget Allocation, particularly the provision for reagents without the corresponding equipment.
Parliament has urged the government to adopt more effective planning strategies and prioritize resource allocation to critical sectors each year, rather than broadly distributing funds that ultimately leave essential entities with insufficient resources to make a meaningful impact.
The looming Shs1.776 trillion shortfall has ignited fears that the health sector is on the brink of a major crisis, potentially leading to a decline in the quality and accessibility of essential health services for the Ugandan population.
The question now remains: how much more will citizens have to struggle to access the healthcare they need?