Experts Urge Uganda to Plan for Self-Sufficient Health Sector as Donor Aid Declines

Health experts urge Uganda to make its health sector financially self-sustaining due to declining donor aid.

Health experts have advised the Ugandan government to urgently devise strategies to make the health sector financially self-sustaining in the face of declining donor aid. This warning emerged from a consultative meeting involving the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, district health officers, and civil society organizations, where serious concerns were raised about the sector's persistent financial constraints despite government efforts.

While Patrick Mwanja, a commissioner from the Ministry of Finance, defended the government's efforts by citing a 4.4 percent annual budget increase and an expanding tax base from oil and other sources, these measures were deemed insufficient. A stark warning came from the World Health Organization's Christabel Abewe, who indicated that donor reductions are set to worsen. She attributed this to Uganda's transition to a middle-income country, recent U.S. policies on withdrawing support, and the international community shifting its focus to other global issues like immigration.

Richard Muganzi from the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development confirmed that donations have been dwindling for the last five years. He, along with other experts, proposed concrete solutions for the government, including prioritizing the long-delayed National Health Insurance Scheme to broaden the funding pool. They also advocated for the introduction of "sin taxes" on alcohol, tobacco, and sugary beverages to generate dedicated revenue.

Further recommendations from the meeting called for improved fiscal discipline. Julius Mukundane of CSBAG pointed to the underutilization of a 16 billion shilling loan and a World Bank report highlighting 40 percent wastage in the sector. Moses Nsoba from the NGO Forum emphasized the critical need to improve infrastructure at national referral hospitals and to take decisive action to reduce the widespread leakage and theft of drugs from medical facilities.