In 2009 the ministry of health launched a program to come out with national accounts in the domain of health.The program was largely sponsored by the world health organization, UNICEF, the global fund, USAID and other partners.This document constitutes the only one so far on the financing of Health in Cameroon.
A ceremony to present the results of the compilation of national accounts of 2011 and to launch the activities of the 2012 year was organized at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel on the 17th of June 2014 presided over by the minister of Health Andre Mama Fouda. The accounts revealed that, reproductive health represent 6.04% of current expenditure on health, the health of the child 24.3%, malaria 28.57%, HIV/AIDS 3.64%, and tuberculosis 0.6% according to the 2011 statistics showing that Cameroon is in a good footing in ensuring the people’s right to health.
However, a major worry expressed by both the minister of health and the representative of the world health organization; Dr. Charlotte Faty Ndiaye was the fact that out of the total expenditure on health in 2011 amounting to FCFA 503,98 billion, 52.2% came directly from households, just 32.9% from public expenditure and 14.4% from the rest of the world. This indicates that though the total public expenditure has increased globally over the years and access to health has been guaranteed, households have suffered the most to ensure that we get to this point. A situation that needs to be redressed and other actors like the media, insurance companies, enterprises amongst others contribute in greater proportions to enhance health.
With a global increase in state budget allocated to the health sector this year, it is hoped that many more people will have access to health in Cameroon and the doctor patient ratio will increase considerably in the coming years.
By Natalie Nkembuh
