New Health Policy 2009: budgetary allocations for health sector likely to be doubled

Plan to double the budgetary allocations for health sector from the current 6 percent to 12 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the much-delayed National Health Policy 2009 is under consideration to achieve the objective of health for all.
Health Ministry has approached Finance Ministry to seek its nod regarding the proposed increase in budgetary allocations for the sector to provide better health facilities to the people.
It is said that the National Health Policy is being delayed, as Chief Minister Punjab has not been taken on board by the Federal Health Minister as a provincial stakeholder. As soon as consultations with the CM Punjab will be completed the draft of the policy will be tabled before the cabinet for the approval. Talking to Business Recorder a senior official of Health Ministry said that in the upcoming National Health Policy 2009 the Ministry has laid special emphasis on among others enhancing budgetary allocations for the sector.
He said that Pakistan continues to spend less on health than most other countries having the same level of GDP. "Over the last 15 years public health expenditures have increased by 50 percent, however taking into account the population growth and inflation, the real increase as percentage of GDP has been stagnated at 0.6 percent", he added.
Between 2001-02 to 2005-06 public sector investment increased by 90 percent in real terms as compared to 5 percent during the previous 5 years, but this increase also did not meet the targets set under Poverty Reduction Strategy and Fiscal Responsibility Act. "About 75 percent of the health expenditure is out of pocket. It has become difficult for poor people to afford the health expenditure", he further maintained.
" The budget allocations of $4 per person per annum is not sufficient at all, as half of the amount is being spent on the doctor fee and the person is left with no more to buy the medicines", he added. The official said that the rate of improvement in health outcomes has been slow as compared to neighbouring countries.
In Pakistan under-five mortality remains the highest among the South Asian countries. High maternal mortality combined with high fertility results in one out of every 89 women dying of pregnancy related causes. Malnutrition remains widespread and unadvised. In addition, persisting burden of infectious diseases is now compounded by increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.
He further maintained that considering the poor health facilities across the country especially in the rural areas there is an urgent need to increase the allocations. He further added that in the new Health Policy emphasises has been laid on the need of the health insurance cover for the poor people.
"This issue was raised by many people and is being taken into account by including in the Benazir Income Support Programme and it is expected that it will be announced in this current fiscal year", he added. He further told this scribe that the policy also contains recommendations for improving the primary health care, increasing the number of doctors, paramedical staff, prices and availability of medicines, blood transfusion method etceteras.
To a question regarding the long delay in the formulation of the National Health Policy 2009, he replied that almost 75 percent work has been completed on the draft Policy keeping in view the discussions and recommendations from leading health experts.
"However the main reason behind the delay is that the Federal Minster for Health has consulted the chief ministers of all the provinces including AJ&K except Punjab. The day he will discuss the policy with him the other day it will be presented before the cabinet for the approval", he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Ministry of Health has initiated the process to develop a new health policy in 2006 but the process remained slow. Since 2006 several times the final date for the approval of the National Health Policy was announced but up till now the Policy is to be announced.