KABUL (SW): Today, at a ceremony marking the World Health Day, the Minister of Public Health said that the ministry’s budget has been cut by about $100 million this year.
Ferozuddin Feroz, the Minister of Public Health said the decline in the international aid and the limited funding sources have been the major reason for the problems of providing health services to all citizens affecting the provision of health services across the country.
According to the Minister of Public Health, at present, the annual healthcare cost of each citizen is about $5, while in some of the most impoverished countries this figure is more than $20 per year.
Minister of Public Health informed that the ministry has submitted plans and suggestions to the government to increase its budget through domestic sources including taxing tobacco and sugar.
Health Minister reiterated that if the government approves the customs tariff on tobacco, $40 million of this will be added to the budget of MoPH per annum.
MoPH had a budget of $255 million last year.
ENDS
