Malawi Health Equity Network (MEHN) has asked Members of Parliament (MPs) to lobby for an increase to the drug budget for public hospitals.

MEHN’s Executive Director George Jobe made the sentiments as parliament is expected to meet on May 4, for the 2018-2019 budget session.

“Our fear is that it might not be in the plan of government through the ministry of finance to allocate the required funds in government hospitals,” Jobe said.

However, Jobe suggested that the critical issues to be tackled in the next budget session should include the health budget cut for district and central hospitals in the 2017 to 2018.

He added that the Parliamentarians should reverse the controversial K4 billion kwacha which was meant to be distributed in some constituencies across the country.

“It is our hope that the cuts that were made during the midyear budget review will be addressed to carter for the financial problems that health facilities faced in last year” he said.

Jobe highlighted that the K4 billion would have been used to eradicate problems such as drug shortages in public hospitals.

He appealed to MPs to lobby the finance minister to address critical issues in the health sector.

“Our plea is that the parliament should set a waver that will monitor the provision of these funds at district level on a monthly basis” he said.

Few weeks ago, MEHN released a statement which among others expressed dismay over late allocation of funds in District Health Offices and the living conditions of health assistants in some government hospitals.