By 
The Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRAP) has warned that a potential funding gap of approximately K42 million for HIV treatment could emerge, posing risks to treatment continuity if not addressed in the 2026 National Budget.
MedRAP Executive Director, Liyoka Liyoka, said that while Parliament had already approved a 30 percent increase to cushion the withdrawal of certain donor funds, further adjustments may still be required.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday, Liyoka noted that achieving adequate funding would significantly enhance Zambia’s resilience and reduce overreliance on external financing.
“Health investment is not an expenditure, it is an economic imperative,” he stated.
He warned that failing to address health financing gaps could undermine Zambia’s projected 6% GDP growth target in 2026.
Liyoka also urged the government to consider allocating a greater proportion of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) toward health services, particularly within devolved health systems, to offset potential shortfalls.
Additionally, Zambia’s plans to begin local manufacturing of antiretroviral medicines could be affected by this funding shortfall.
“These developments underscore the urgent need for the Government to reassess and strengthen the 2026 health budget to mitigate any shocks,” Liyoka said.
He reiterated the importance of fulfilling commitments under the Abuja Declaration, which calls for at least 15 percent of the national budget to be allocated to the health sector.
Meanwhile, Liyoka commended the government for raising concerns regarding the proposed US$1.5 billion health sector aid package from the United States, noting that conditionalities attached to the package could raise significant issues.
“While the funding was intended to support critical health interventions—including HIV/AIDS treatment, re-emerging malaria control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness, disease outbreak response, as well as maternal and child health services—the conditionalities attached to the package raise significant concerns,” he said.
Liyoka stated that some conditions reportedly included provisions affecting access to sensitive national and individual health data, alongside other requirements that may not align with Zambia’s national interests.
Read More: Group questions government silence on 65 medical containers
“Today, health is no longer merely a social service, it is a strategic economic and national security sector,” he said.
He emphasized that health sovereignty—a country’s ability to finance, produce, regulate, and govern its own health systems independently—should remain a priority for Zambia and other African nations.
“We are witnessing increasingly inward-looking global policies, and African states must collectively respond through the framework of the African Union,” Liyoka said.
He further called on the African Union to convene a Heads of State Summit to deliberate on a unified continental position regarding agreements such as the ‘America First’ policy framework and similar bilateral arrangements.
“MedRAP is cognizant that the Government’s reservations may have immediate implications for Zambia’s health sector,” Liyoka stated.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments