THE government allocated 142bn/- for the procurement of essential medicines, laboratory reagents and the transportation of medical samples after key donor support in the sector was intensely reduced early last year.
Prof. Tumaini Nagu, the Regional Administration and Local Governments (PMO-RALG) deputy permanent secretary for Health, said yesterday that a further 158bn/- has been budgeted for each of the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years to support HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria prevention, treatment and control programmes.
The remarks were made when opening a three-day national health forum in the capital, bringing together regional medical officers, regional AIDS coordinators, tuberculosis and leprosy coordinators and laboratory services coordinators.
Others involved are pharmacists and health information coordinators, gathered to discuss strategies for ensuring the sustainability of key health services, where the top health administrator said that the government has maintained its long-term strategies to ensure HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria services remain sustainable by strengthening domestic financing mechanisms.
The government has made significant progress in reducing dependence on external funding through initiatives such as the operationalisation of the AIDS Trust Fund and the signing of a bilateral sustainability compact with the United States, she stated.
These initiatives are aimed at building a resilient health system capable of maintaining quality healthcare services for patients across the country, she said, commending regional health management teams and the district counterparts for integrating HIV, TB and malaria services into routine healthcare delivery, improving efficiency and strengthening patient care.
Dr Rashid Mfaume, the health, social welfare and nutrition director at PMO-RALG, had earlier said that the three-day forum is intended to assess progress made in implementing previous health sector resolutions, review existing challenges and develop coordinated strategies for improving healthcare delivery.
Participants are expected to formulate practical recommendations to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and ensure uninterrupted access to quality healthcare services for all patients, he said.
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria services are uninterrupted despite changes in global donor funding, as the government is committed to strengthening domestic financing to sustain essential healthcare programmes, officials noted.
