Health rights activist Maziko Matemba has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to be in the forefront advocating for more resources in the health sector.
The call comes at a time when stakeholders in the sectore are trying to find ways and strategies for an increased health financing for more sustainable public health insurance.
Matemba said although the country has made strides towards achieving substantial health financing reforms.in the country, there are still some stumbling blocks that need to be delt with.
Currently, government contributes 20 percent to the national health budget while the 80 percent is from development partners.
Further, Matemba observed that there is no national policy guidance on gradual increase to the domestic health financing efforts such that if the donor community pulls out, then there will be no adequate
support to sustainability supports the Malawi health delivery systems.
“We need to be involved in health financing agenda because it cannot cannot be driven without people understanding health finance,” he said
Minister of health khumbize Kandondo Chiponda admitted that the country is not doing well in health budget allocation as it is failing to meet the Abuja declaration achieving 8.9 percent against the targeted 15 percent.
“We need to add more resources in our envelops by introducing strategies such deducting those who are on the scheme to pay a little amount in order to put more in health budget,” she said
The ministry and its partners have developed the Health Financing Strategy (2022-2030), currently developing the Health Sector Strategic plan 3 and Malawi commitment by signing Africa Leadership Meeting declaration (ALM) on health financing.
