09 Aug 2017

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele says the ministry is working on a new health financing strategy that aims to ensure financial sustainability of a universal package of health services, including HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases.

Speaking in Parliament recently, Mr Makgalemele explained that HIV/AIDS was funded through a mix of government, private sector and development partners.

He said government contributed the largest share of funding.

“A nationwide survey for the year 2013/14 shows that domestic funding contributes 57 per cent, donors 38 per cent, and private funding five per cent to HIV/AIDS response,” said the assistant minister.

He said in order to close the funding gap, which was likely to occur due to donor withdrawal and as part of implementation of the revised National Health Policy, a new health financing strategy was being developed.

Apart from ensuring financial sustainability of a universal package of health services, he also said the strategy would promote efficiency within the health system, explore effective partnership in health financing, as well as empower communities with demand-side approaches to strengthening access to health services including HIV/AIDS.

“The new health financing strategy will be considering effective mix of public and private partnerships and indeed other mechanisms for financing health services,” Mr Makgalemele said.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo had wanted to know plans in place to ensure that HIV/AIDS response was not affected by the withdrawal of international donor finance. ENDS