The MTBPS mentions that health spending will increase by 7.4 per cent - or in real terms a 1.9 per cent increase. The PBC does not believe that this is enough to address the massive challenges faced in this area. These challenges include staff shortages; non-availability of medicines; infrastructure backlogs and inadequate systems. These challenges have generated negative outcomes like the increase in maternal mortality and a relatively high child mortality figure. The MTBPS should have clarified the financing mechanism of the National Health Insurance (NHI) and made the necessary budgetary allocations to phase in the system.