Dangers of Relying on Donor-Funded Procurement in the Health Sector in the Low-to-Middle-Income Countries of Africa: Lessons from a Low-Income Country in Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35898/ghmj-931346Keywords:
Corruption, Donor-funded procurement, Donor coordination, Laboratory, Low-to Middle-Income Country of AfricaAbstract
Background: The study focused on the dangers of heavily relying on donor-funded procurement in the health sector in low- to middle-income countries, focusing on the lessons learnt from a low-income country in Africa.
Aims: The study's objective was to critically investigate the risks associated with donor-funded procurement in Zimbabwe's health sector, with a bias towards laboratory services, a major arm of health services and provide insights that can be applied to other LMICS in Africa or elsewhere in the world.
Methods: The study adopted the use of secondary quantitative data from quantification reports for periods ranging from 2021 to 2023, with a special focus on the medical laboratory of Zimbabwe. The researcher did not doubt the data because it has been made public, which means the laboratory department is very sure of its accuracy. The quantification reports encompass laboratory commodities covering HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria based on the list of laboratory funders.
Results: The study’s key findings are that the government’s funding is very low compared to the donor-funded procurements, which implies that there is a need for improved health support. Additionally, the results confirmed that the government is heavily relying on support from donors, which may not be sustainable in the long run. Furthermore, the results pointed out that the unfunded gap for all the years to have maximum service delivery from the laboratory’s perspective is unsustainable, and measures must be put in place to ameliorate the situation. The results further Zimbabwe laboratory service is donor-dependent, with most of its commodities financed externally, creating vulnerabilities in diagnostics and surveillance.
Conclusion: The study recommended that the government should improve funding for this key health system. The study concluded that there is a genuine concern about the dangers of relying on donor-funded procurement in the Department of Laboratory Services and the Ministry of Health at large. Also, the study recommended that the government adopt the Abuja Declaration of 2001, that is, putting aside 15% of the total budget for starters to fund the laboratory services. Additionally, a resilience mechanism should be put in place to address shocks. The study implies that the government must provide an accountability mechanism, which includes a major shift in the oversight and accountability of the ministry concerned. Additionally, the implications are that these study findings extend beyond Zimbabwe to other LMICs that face similar risks of laboratory procurement fragility and donor support decline. The study further underscores the urgent need for procurement self-reliance and resilience to safeguard laboratory sustainability and strengthen health system performance globally.
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