The state spends around 750 million meticais every year to pay for foreign aid in the health area, the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, said on Wednesday.

He also said that the country must reduce its foreign dependency by 2029 by training specialists in the field.

"We must continue to accelerate the training of specialists. In this cycle of governance, we must at least manage to reduce external dependence to around 75%. This is the target we have to reach by 2029. So our colleagues in training have a huge challenge. Let's use the resources that are available. I know there are difficulties in freeing up colleagues to go and study. In this cycle, we're going to open it up to Mozambicans to train, so that we can end our dependence on foreigners. We spend around 750 million meticais a year to pay for foreign aid in the medical field," he said.

He was speaking as part of the 13th session of the Hospital Council, which precedes the First Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Health, starting on Friday in Maputo City.

On the other hand, he challenged the sector's managers to make greater efforts to stop the detour of drugs from the National Health System.

"In this area, I ask for your cooperation in controlling the theft of medicines, this is your responsibility from now on," he appealed, as well as demanding a "tough hand" against staff who mistreat patients in health facilities.