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The NMS general manager, Moses Kamabare, said since donor agencies such as PEPFAR that have for long provided essential medicines such as anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), sexual reproductive products and TB drugs have threatened to withdraw funding, Government must now take full charge.
“Donors have announced that they will soon scale down on funding; we therefore have a funding gap, for ARVs next year which may reduce by sh31b,” said Kamabare.
Kamabare made the remarks while appearing before the Health Committee on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 where he presented the NMS Budget Framework Paper for the financial year 2022/2023 totaling to sh513b.
He said the anticipated reduction in external funding will affect the management of malaria. He requested for sh35b to bridge the funding gaps for anti-malarial drugs.
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Other NMS’s underfunded priorities where they seek Parliament intervention include: Immunisation supplies, laboratory commodities and emergency supplies.
Legislators observed poor projections in the NMS budget and asked Kamabare to consider a revision.
The Jinja South West Division Member of Parliament (MP), Timothy Batuwa, said the sh40b total budget for malaria is too little compared to the population and the disease burden.
The Bulambuli District Woman MP, Irene Muloni, said the budget is blind about access of medicines and supplies in island communities which she said often suffers stock outs.
“Some of the islands do not have some of the invasive drugs; I wonder how you structure distribution in such areas with transport challenges,” Muloni said.
She asked NMS to address the ‘puzzle’ of high quantities of expired drugs amidst scarcity which she said has prevailed.
“Is it a procurement problem? Do we buy medicines that are about to expire?” asked Muloni.
The Kole County North MP, Samuel Opio, asked for the progress of COVID-19 vaccines and the plan to install an oxygen plant at NMS.
Kamabare said that poor mobilisation for COVID-19 vaccination had affected utilisation and that over 20 million doses were soon expiring.
He said works were under way to prepare for installation of the oxygen plant at NMS by end of 2023.