Harare — Government has extended the targeted resuscitating of health institutions, including infrastructure rehabilitation and equipment procurement to provincial and district hospitals following a budget allocation of US$25,5 million for the programme.

Presenting the 2010 National Budget in Harare last week, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the approach had resulted in improved health service delivery at targeted institutions this year.

"The 2010 budget will therefore consolidate this approach expanding to other health institutions throughout the country," Minister Biti said.

Institutions earmarked to benefit in 2010 are United Bulawayo Hospitals, Ingutsheni, Ngomahuru, Gweru, Masvingo and Gwanda hospitals, while Harare Central, Mpilo and Mutare hospitals have already benefited.

The 2009 targeted approach resulted in the re-opening of the Children's Hospital at Harare Central Hospital, refurbishment of theatres, rehabilitation of maternity and general wards and repair of elevators at the three Government institutions. Minister Biti allocated US$15 million for revamping Harare, Mpilo and Mutare central hospitals, while a further US$17,5 million will cater for infrastructure at other institutions.

Another US$3 million will go to procurement of essential equipment for laundry, kitchen and boiler services.

He acknowledged that overall availability of drugs and other medical supplies were still too low at 50 percent for vital drugs against a target of 100 percent and 20 percent for essential drugs against targeted percentage.

The minister, however, said support from partners had enabled Government to ensure availability of drugs at primary health care.

For the financial year 2010, Minister Biti allocated US$285,4 million against last year's US$121 million, translating to 12,7 percent of the national budget allocation.

This year Government not only honoured its United Nations obligation to channel 15 percent of the national budget to health, but actually surpassed it by 0,7 percent.

Zimbabwe is a signatory to the 2001 Abuja commitment in which African Heads of State and Government agreed to allocate 15 percent of their national budgets towards health.

However, the Ministry only released US$13 million against the allocated US$121 million.

"To ensure that the resources allocated achieve the desired impact, we will continue with the targeted approach in the implementation of projects and programmes within the sector," Minister Biti said.