Question NW743 to the Minister of Health
01 April 2022 - NW743
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
Noting the 1% decrease in the 2022 allocated budget for health as compared to 2021, (a) how will the specified decrease affect the (i) National Health Insurance pilot programmes and (ii) entire programme itself and (b)(i) which of the five programmes in his department will be most affected by the decrease and (ii) what is the reason for this?
Reply:
a) (i) The National Health Insurance (NHI) Pilot Programme took place over a five year period starting in the 2012 / 2013 financial year and concluding in the 2017 / 2018 financial year. The 1% decrease in the budget has no effect on the programme that was concluded four(4) years ago.
(ii) Any budget decrease reduces the amount of care that the health sector is able to provide. The NHI is a reform that will take time and that is to be phased in. The reduction of allocations will not impact the rollout of the NHI programme but it will negatively impact health care for those who use the public health system.
b) (i) Programme 3: Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases is the most affected by the decrease.
(ii) The decrease is mainly due to a reduction in the allocation to procure COVID-19 vaccines because sufficient stock were obtained during 2021 for the vaccination programme.
END.