Health Sector Tracker: Kwara health expenditure fails to inspire hope of financial commitment to healthcare development

By solacebase.com On Jun 8, 2024

PHC , Health, Workers, budget, Kwara, — Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq

An analysis of budget performance documents by SolaceBase has given a worrying view of health sector financial performance in Kwara state.

With an estimated child mortality rate of 23 for every 1000 live births, and infant mortality of 52 for every 1000, the Kwara healthcare system per data needs more attention, one which financial commitments may help bridge better.

This also comes amid concerns about the poor state of Kwara state primary healthcare centres, most of whom are said to be understaffed and dilapidated.

In the 2022 financial year as of the third quarter, which is when data was available, the state spent only N6.5 billion of the budgeted N16.7 billion of the health sector budget for the financial year.

Of this amount, approved capital expenditure stood at N12.4 billion, however, actual expenditure was N3 billion, meaning that only 24% of the expected expenditure was spent.

The situation in 2023 meant that of the N26 billion budgeted however only N15.5 billion was spent.

In the same year, of the N18 billion capital expenditure, only N9.4 billion was spent.

In 2024, only N4.6 billion had been spent in the first three months of the year of the total budget of N32 billion, lower than the quarterly average of N8 billion.

Of the N25 billion full-year capital expenditure budget for the year, only N2.7 billion has been spent, an amount less than the quarterly prorated amount of N6.25 billion.

The promises of the Kwara state government to prioritize healthcare may not be matched up in the same energy with the financial resources committed to the purpose of the healthcare sector management, per data review by SolaceBase.

Access to healthcare is one of the basic human rights listed by the World Health Organization.