Brunei - $41m added to public health budget

TO ENSURE the continuous improvement of national health services, a total of $40.9 million has been added to the budget for health initiatives.

During the first reading of the estimated National Budget for the 2012/2013 fiscal year yesterday, the Second Minister of Finance at the Prime Minister's Office said public health continues to be one of the basic services provided by the government free of charge.

"This is to ensure that all citizens and residents of this country will be able to receive necessary medical treatment at any time," said the Second Finance Minister, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Ibrahim.

In line with this, the budget for the purchase of pharmaceutical products was raised by $8 million to $56 million.

Additional allocations to finance travelling costs for patients that require treatment overseas were also raised by $2 million to $10 million.

An increase of $4.86 million was also made in the allocation of medical supplies and services for hospitals across the country, to $24.28 million.

Meanwhile, a $6.3 million augmentation has been made for the amount set aside for the purchase of tools and equipment for hospitals and health centres, while $3.2 million has been added to the budget for renovation and upgrading of offices of hospitals and health centres.

An additional $2.1 million has been allocated for the purchase of five ambulances, while another $500,000 has been added to the budget for health promotion.

An allocation of $5 million will continue to be provided for addressing the threat of infectious diseases, to finance logistic needs, purchase of pharmaceutical products, lab supplies, apparatus and related equipment.

A new incentive which has been implemented on public health recently is the launch of the Health Promotion 2011-2015 blueprint.

The blueprint is a health promotion framework which contains a short- to medium-term strategy to promote a healthy lifestyle and to prevent and control contagious and non-contagious chronic diseases in the country.

In addition, under this focus, the allocation of $18 million which was provided in the fiscal year 2011/2012 for the purpose of establishing places of recreation and sports and refurbishment of sports facilities will continue to be provided for the fiscal year 2012/2013.

Of the amount, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports will get $8 million; the Ministry of Development will get $5 million; and Ministry of Home Affairs will get $5 million.

Through these allocations, efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle and positive culture in the community will hopefully be improved and become more effective.

Meanwhile, allocations have also been made to improve principle infrastructures in the country.

The budget for public amenities and infrastructure has been raised by $5.3 million to $50 million for the Public Works Department (JKR) for maintenance works for water supply and roads.

An additional $7.5 million has been allocated to carry out work on landscaping preservation and residential areas.

An additional $15.35 million has been set aside for the works in upgrading water supply system, and while an additional $15 million with project price of $62.9 million has been made for upgrading drainage system and sewerage, flood mitigation of several places.

An additional $41.6 million with a total project price of $55.4 million has been reserved for works in traffic management and road safety.

In the meantime, budgets are also provided under the National Development Plan for the following:

To address the problem of flooding in the country, a number of projects undertaken including the work of the Sungai Kedayan drainage phase 5 and Sungai Menglait phase 2 worth $12.95 million; Kampung Ban / Mulaut Flood Allevation project phase 2 worth $5.85 million; $4 million for repairing drainage in Tutong Town, Temburong and Kampong Tungku; and an allocation of $27.28 million with a total price project of $58.40 million for projects in upgrading and widening of main street involving a number of roads such as Jalan Muara and Jalan Aman to Jalan Tanah Jambu; Jalan Kuala Lurah; Jalan Lamunin; Jalan Sg Mau/Merangking/Buau.

For electric services, an additional allocation of $3 million which makes it $50 million will also be provided to defray the expenses of the electricity supply, the second minister said.

Similarly, to operate and maintain the power system, the allocation has been increased to $1.7 million, while $12 million (the price project of $36 million) will be provided for the supply and installation of prepaid meters.

To promote the culture of caring and responsibility, the government has allocated $300,000 as an aid to alleviate the need and expenses of non-governmental organisations (NGO).

This amount will be provided under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, so that organisations relevant to this cause will be able to implement their plans and assist groups with specific purposes more effectively.

To attract and encourage leadership involvement at the grassroots level in maintaining the well-being of the population, an allocation for district and village consultative councils has been increased to $400,000 and district and village economic activities increased from $200,000 to $500,000, specifically to support the one mukim one product (Satu Mukim Satu Produk) project.

SYED RORY MALAI HASSAN

The Brunei Times

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