As at June this year, “nearly 60% of all COVID-19 deaths were persons who had complications arising from arterial hypertension and type II diabetes.”
This is according to the Ministry of Finance mid-year report on health which notes that a whopping $2.2 billion has been spent on purchasing COVID-19 vaccines to protect the population.
The report noted that given the multi-dimensional threat which the pandemic poses to all facets of life, Government expanded allocation to the health sector in 2021 and that—as at midyear—of the $53.5 billion budgeted—$26.7 billion was expended—of which $8 billion was for drugs and medical supplies.