Question NW1334 to the Minister of Health
19 May 2023 - NW1334
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
What (a) portion of the budget received from sugar tax is levied towards health awareness and health services and (b) diseases are prioritised with the above-mentioned allocation from the sugar tax?
Reply:
a) During the 2022/2023 financial year 100% of the total allocation was assigned to health awareness and education on common risk factors as well as access to screening and linkage to care. However only 51.7% of the budget was spent due to lack of human resources. The Department plans to put out a call for proposals to NGOs in the health promotion and non-communicable diseases areas to scale up the health promotion and disease prevention activities.
b) The chronic disease prevention and health promotion levy (sugar tax) is presently allocated toward addressing non-communicable diseases including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and mental health.
END.