STATE BUDGET IS GROWING, PREVENTION MEANS ARE SHORTING – Reaction

Although the state budget for 2023 is planned to be the largest in the state’s 30-year existence, funds are being cut in as many as 7 out of 10 preventive health care programs

Despite the significant increase in the state budget planned for 2023, health care for prevention is reduced by as much as one-third compared to the previous two years, and there are cuts in as many as 7 out of 10 preventive programs, civil society organizations ESE, the Initiative for Women’s Rights have warned by Shuto Orizari and The Platform of HIV protection organizations at today’s press conference held in front of the Assembly of RS. Macedonia.

There are cuts in the programs for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, for the organization and promotion of blood donation, for preventive health care, for mandatory immunization, for the prevention of brucellosis, for the prevention of tuberculosis, for protection from AIDS and for active health care of mothers and children. The total budget of programs for preventive and curative health care is at the same level as this year, despite the fact that in 2023 the state budget will be the largest ever since the independence of the state.

Instead of growing in direct proportion to the state budget, the budget of the Ministry of Health remains almost unchanged and from 3%, as it was in the period 2018-2020, next year it will represent only 2.1% of the total budget. “Two years ago, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) made a decision obliging the state to provide access to health services for marginalized groups of citizens, and instead, funds for the programs intended for them are only being reduced “, reminded Almira Fasliyi Muarem from the Association “Initiative for Women’s Rights from Shuto Orizari”, emphasizing that with such budget cuts threaten the reproductive health of Roma women, especially pregnant women who are not insured and women without personal documentation.

The civil organizations ESE, the Initiative for Women’s Rights by Shuto Orizari and the Platform of Organizations for the Protection of HIV request the deputies in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, especially the members of the Committee on Financing and Budget, to adopt the amendments to the draft budget of the Republic of North Macedonia Macedonia for 2023 in Section 19001 – Ministry of Health, for which already we have submitted proposals. Subsequently, the same amendments are requested to be accepted by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, to be accordingly inserted in the Supplemented Budget Proposal of the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023 and to become part of The Law on the Execution of the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023. We expect transparency and cooperation from all responsible parties, including the Government, given that it is about the health of our citizens.