2023 budget: Kano to increase allocation to health ministry

By Konyinsola Dawodu

The Kano State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, has said the state government plans to increase the ministry’s 2023 budgetary allocation as part of the efforts to tackle monkey pox and other deadly emerging diseases.

The commissioner noted that between 2014 to date, the state government had increased the health sector budgetary allocation from a paltry six percent to 17 per cent.

He said this was despite the current economic challenges confronting the state.

Tsanyawa said the state had developed the second State Health Sector Strategic plan for 2023 to complete a cancer centre, four Emirate Hospitals, and an ICT centre in the ministry.

The Commissioner disclosed this to journalists during the State’s Annual Operational Planning (AOP) for Health Sector, held at Hotel Seventeen in Kaduna on Saturday.

Tsanyawa noted that with an evidence-based plan, the state might allocate more to healthcare in the 2023 budget to address outbreaks of emerging diseases like monkey pox.

He said, “In 2014, before the coming of this administration, the health sector has only 6% allocation in the state budget. However, with continuous evidence-based AOP development and the political will of the His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR, allocation to the health sector in the state budget rose to 15% in 2019 (achieved Abuja Declaration) and sustained in 2020. Despite the current economic challenges, Kano state has achieved above 15% allocation to the health sector in 2021 (16%) and 2022 (17%).

“We are hoping that the state will allocate even more resources to the health sector in 2023 to address emerging challenges like health security and various disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, monkeypox, etc.”

On the planned cancer center, the commissioner said, “The key priority areas for 2023 AOP includes completion of cancer centre and four emirates Hospitals, establishment of ICT centre in the Ministry, strengthening service delivery and quality of care in secondary and primary health facilities, implementation of phase one MSP and increased enrolment of the vulnerable and informal sector by KSCHMA.

“Others include improved efficiency in the implementation of BHCPF, strengthening regulation and integration of private health sector, improved accreditation of courses and migration of certification to OND-HND in health training institutions.”