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There are many diseases, both communicable and non-communicable, that are killing people every day and it becomes problematic to the management of health when a country starts itemising and prioritising diseases over others. The Global Fund, which we have no control over, targets certain disease components, such as HIV, TB and Malaria. This has not really bothered us because the programme is donor-driven and countries can only access the money to cater for the diseases covered under the Fund.
But we begin to get worried when our parliamentarians start calling for the introduction of a cancer levy as if it is the only disease that deserves serious attention. It is agreed that cancer is killing people and that all efforts must be made to help cancer sufferers, the same way those living with diabetes, asthma, those with cardiovascular problems causing strokes and heart attacks, in fact the list is endless.
It is clear that we have parliamentarians who are obsessed with coming up with piece-meal solutions to problems and seem ignorant of the broader picture. The question that begs an answer is: Where do we stop once we introduce the cancer levy? What happens to people suffering from diabetes, asthma and other diseases that are silently killing people? What then stops an MP living with diabetes and asthma to introduce a motion in Parliament recommending the introduction of a Diabetes Levy, Asthma Levy and Epilepsy Levy when a precedence has been set with the cancer levy?
We are not refuting the fact that the cancer prevalence rate is going up but it must be borne in mind that diseases are diseases and that some that are not even recognised under any funding programme are in fact killing many people. Diarrhoeal diseases are killing children, people are collapsing while walking because of heart diseases, yet many others suffer from epilepsy. As long as a disease results in the death of people, there can never be a disease classified as better than the other when lives are involved.
Indeed there are many people suffering from various cancers, such as prostrate, cervical and breast but still this does not warrant the introduction of a targeted levy. The biggest problem we have as a country is allowing donors to prescribe to us diseases that need to be attended to. This is why so much money is being spent on circumcision, yet from a social perspective, you ask yourself what new HIV infections are being recorded because people are not circumcised.
It is sad when we let some people in positions of leadership use their conditions to influence policy when we know that it is not only cancer, that is giving the same electorate that assured them a seat in Parliament, sleepless nights but a host of other diseases.
It is our view that the whole issue of disease management must be approached from a fiscal point of view with Treasury taking keen interest in the matters. It is Treasury that must provide for all the sectoral needs through the national budget allocations.
The cancer issue is a health issue and must be viewed from the point. For us what is needed is a Health Fund or Health Insurance from which money would be allocated to cater for the various diseases depending on the rate or level they affect the people. We are all vulnerable to suffering from any disease any time and thus itemising and prioritising certain diseases over others is most unfortunate.
We are already a high-taxed bracket economy and we cannot continue taking away from the little the people are getting in salaries and wages as the net effect of that would suppress demand for goods and services.
Surely we cannot continue “chopping” money from the already overburdened people.
Online Reporter