By RAWLINGS OTIENO

The Government risks failing in its implementation of free maternal services, if the sector remains under funded.

When the Jubilee Coalition promised that within its first 100 days, maternal services would be free of charge, it was received with a lot of expectations, especially among poor women.

And now, doctors are raising questions over inadequacy of funds, equipment, facilities and staff to oversee the rollout of the programme.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) are firing a shot towards the Treasury for underestimating the budget for the healthcare sector at about Sh34 billion or 2 per cent of the national budget.

The medics say there has been chronic underfunding of the healthcare sector with the country falling short of the Abuja Declaration that requires any national government to set aside at least 15 per cent of its budget to the healthcare sector.

This year’s budget estimates tabled in Parliament shows the Health ministry has been allocated Sh34 billion against an estimate of Sh140 billion to effectively improve access to health care.

“The current budgetary allocation to health of a paltry Sh34 billion or 2 per cent of the budget is unprecedented and takes the prize in the race of underfunding healthcare,” said KMPDU Chair Victor Ngani.

The medics had estimated the free maternal healthcare programme would cost at least Sh12.5 billion, noting none of the estimates factors-in, the much-needed improvement in pay and numbers of health workers to better serve the population.

The Musyimi Report on strengthening public sector healthcare provision recommended allocation of Sh15.9 billion.

The medics had proposed the identification and buying of necessary equipment for at least one referral hospital per county at a cost of Sh47 billion over the next three years.

Statistics from  health workers show 42,000 infants die at birth every year, with another 122,000 children under age five years losing their lives every year from illnesses.

The doctors now warn county governments to be wary of attempts at passing a budgetary liability to them through underfunding.