Budgeting is the process of resource allocation to various sectors of the economy. It’s the selection of ends and the means to reach those ends within a country. Budgeting involves the division of resources between the public and private sectors as well as among competing needs and wants. Budgeting is the manifestation of a countries strategy and vision. It’s the process of translating the financial resources into human purposes (Shim & Siegel 2009). Budget is a tool for providing control, targets and direction within the public domain; helping to master the aspects of such areas as the job department, health care and public safety.
Since it’s a process to achieve desired outcomes, it facilitates control and communication within the various line ministries in the government. There must be a relationship between the long-term and short-term goals and objectives within these line ministries, therefore priorities must be set (Johnson, Joyce & Lee 2008).
Various governments must make various considerations and policies that will address such public priorities like addressing the job sector, sound health plan for the citizens, taxation policies, price regulation and other areas like protecting infant industries from competition.
The provision of health care is paramount. One of the millennium development goals is to reduce infant mortality rate; this can only be achieved if the government provides sound health care to the citizens. But this is an area that has been ignored by the government for along time. Many are the times that most hospitals in the county luck basic medical facilities like drugs and qualified staff; sometimes the response system is so poor, and this is always due to the small allocation of funds and other resources from the government. Some of the government officials that have been in charge of the planning docket have always used budgeting for political reasons, allocating large amount of resources to areas and sectors that could have not be prioritized. They normally use the budget as a tool for gaining political milestone at the expense of the common man. The allocation of resources to particular sectors is always questionable; graft smelt at all levels. The transparency is always at stake and the sufferer is the most vital sector. Who the donors, contributors of the financial resources allocated to these areas are always a mystery; there is no clear data on such information, and most of the time it’s a manifestation of lack of proper planning. Some of the contributions and donations are had to know whether its real donation or loan granted to the country. Budgeting and proper planning are an item and cannot be differentiated; budgeting is planning and planning is the budgeting itself, so if there is no proper planning then there is no clear budgeting process. There is always the tendency of inconsistency in resource allocation between the line ministries; with some guidelines that are inadequate.
The United States government recognizes the fact that the health sector is one of the central pillars for any meaningful policy formulation towards realizing any form of development (Ohiri, Sparkes Vujicic & World bank 2009). The availability of qualified and adequate health workers is still a nightmare; the payment to the existing staff is very poor. Many of the qualified staff has fled the country in total pursuit of green pastures elsewhere. This is hurting the public since some of the basic human services and rights can be achieved.
Reference list
Johnson, W. R., Joyce, G. P., & Lee, D. R. (2008). Public Budgeting System.Ontario. Canada.
Ohiri, K., Sparkes, S., Vujicic, M., & World Bank (2009). Working in health: financing and managing the public sector health workforce. Washington DC, World Bank.
Shim, J.K., & Siegel, J.G. (2009). Budgeting Basics and Beyond. New Jersey. John Wisely & Sons, Inc.