MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services has been allocated $744 million in the 2025 budget.

The increase is due to the lifestyle of people in this country that continue to put a strain on the government’s budget.

Minister Dr. Paul Bosawai warned that if people of Solomon Islands continue with this kind of lifestyle, it will continue to affect the budget.

He made that warning when speaking on the 2025 Appropriation Bill 2024 this week.

“You (MPs) have seen the budget for this year has increased to $700 million for recurrent and $44 million for the development budget. This depends on our lifestyle, and so I want to let the people of Solomon Islands and, as far as this honourable house is concerned, the lifestyle that we are having today will continue to put pressure on the health budget,” MP for North Guadalcanal said.

Dr Bosawai said smokers are simply disrupting the budget if they continue with that lifestyle and will contribute to this budget.

“If you know that our lifestyle is not healthy, please switch back to a healthy lifestyle because you will contribute to the budget, which is the second largest budget in the 2025 Appropriation Bill 2024. So, our lifestyle also contributes to this budget,” he said.

He added that the health budget is for the people of the Solomon Islands. The budget is to restore the deteriorating healthcare system we continue to face, and obviously our people have been complaining about it.

Dr. Bosawai highlighted three important things to note about running healthcare for people: firstly, the healthcare facilities; secondly, the budget for consumables; and thirdly, the budget for the health workforce for Solomon Islands.

The budget is current in the Committee of Supply stage where the Opposition and Independent Group scrutinizes the budget of ministries and other agencies.

By LACHLAN SHYVES EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara