County Health
County health budgets skewed to recurrent expenditure
By Stephen Macharia
Recurrent expenditure receives the largest share of the total county governments ’ health budget , a report by the Ministry of Health shows .
According to 2014 / 2015 National and County Health Budget Analysis Report released by the Ministry of Health last year , 30 out of 47 counties allocated between 71 and 90 percent of their health budget to recurrent expenditure during the 2014-2015 fiscal year . The report is the latest county governments ’ health budget analysis .
Kisumu and Kisii allocated in excess of 90 per cent of their health budget to recurrent expenditure with allocations of 91 and 92 per cent respectively , leaving development with allocations of less than 10 per cent of the total health budget in the counties .
Only six counties allocated less than 50 percent of their total health budget to recurrent expenditure with Mombasa and Laikipia counties posting the lowest allocations at 36 and 24 per cent respectively .
Source : Ministry of Health
“ In fiscal year 2014 / 15 , 69 per cent of the recurrent health budget was allocated to personnel emoluments , while 13 per cent went to finance operations and maintenance . Medical drugs received only 8 per cent of the recurrent budget .” The report reads .
According to the report “ Construction of facilities was allocated 51 percent of the total county health development budget . A further 13 percent was allocated to vehicles , including ambulances .
Medical equipment had an allocation of 14 percent , while rehabilitation was allocated 22 per cent .”
Under the devolved system of government , the county governments are responsible for healthcare provision services at primary healthcare facilities , dispensaries , health centers , and level 4 and 5 hospitals .
In the year under review , national government funds transfers , shared on needs-based formulae ,
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