By Haruna Gimba
A coalition of health-focus Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has asked for Federal Government’s collaboration in the subsequent budget of the health sector.
Rising from a one-day meeting with Professional Health Associations and Private Sector on the 2016 budget convened by Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), in Abuja, the CSO’s observed that 2016 health sector budget is characterized by lack of transparency, responsiveness and misplacement of priorities.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, PACFaH called on government to develop a framework for participation of CSOs and professional associations in all budgeting process; from conception to design and implementation;
The communiqué read: “There is lack of inclusiveness of non-actors in the budgeting process; as such government must open up the budget process for more transparency, responsiveness and accountability to increase synergy and reduce duplication and wastages.”
The meeting chaired by Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Ben Anyene, decried the non-recognition of the provisions of the 2014 National Health Act in the 2016 budget proposal.
“The framework and guidelines for implementation of the National Health Act 2014 are yet to be put in place; there is also absence of budgetary provisions for key and essential line items for Child and Family Health.
“Federal government should take immediate steps to ensure full implementation of the provisions of the National Health Act 2014 and full use of the new zero-based budgeting framework and template by all MDAs, especially the ministry of health,” the communiqué stated.
The CSOs urged the ministry of heath to work for improvement in targeted capital expenditure in the health sector budget, adding that the federal government should put in place a plan and framework for an increase in funding to reach the commitment of 15% of annual budget for health in line with the 2001 Abuja declaration.
The meeting also called on the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight roles and functions to ensure more transparency and accountability in the budget process.
