Hontiveros flags P23 allocation per Filipino in need of mental health drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday flagged the “alarmingly low” 2021 budget allocation for mental health-related medicine, which she said would equate to only P23 for each Filipino who is suffering from a mental health illness.

Hontiveros said the 2021 budget allocation for such medicines amounts to P84 million or only half of what the Department of Health (DOH) had initially requested from the Department of Budget and Management.

“Mental health medication is some of the most expensive maintenance drugs. Ang daming nawalan ng trabaho. At sa totoo lang, baka mas uunahin nilang tugunan ang kumakalam na sikmura ng pamilya kaysa pagkagastusan ang mga gamot,” the senator said in a statement.

(Mental health medication is some of the most expensive maintenance drugs. Many have lost their jobs. And truth be told, Filipinos would prioritize buying food for them to survive rather than spend money on medicine.)

“The consequences of not subsidizing these medicines and services can lead to even higher rates of suicide,” he added.

According to Hontiveros, at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from mental health disorders.

“I support the DOH in pursuit of a higher budget for mental health. Panahon ito ng stress, uncertainty, isolation at gutom. 3.6 million suffering is not only an underreported count, it’s also increasing everyday,” she said.

(I support the DOH in pursuit of a higher budget for mental health. This is a time of stress, uncertainty, isolation and hunger. 3.6 million suffering is not only an underreported count, it’s also increasing everyday.)

Further, Hontiveros said the P1.2-billion budget of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in 2020 would mean P350 is allocated for each Filipino suffering from a mental health disorder.

She said this is “not enough even for a week’s worth of medication.”

“Mental health issues cannot be solved in a single session or with a single pill….Kung hindi sapat ang pondo para tugunan ang mental health needs, malulunod tayo sa isa pang pandemya,” said the senator.

(Mental health issues cannot be solved in a single session or with a single pill…If we don’t give enough funds for mental health needs, we will reel from another type of pandemic.)

“We need to prepare for, if not completely prevent a mental health crisis. Wag natin tong gawin [Let’s not make this the] new normal,” she added.

While next year’s total budget for mental health had increased, Hontiveros pointed out that allocation for critical services under it had been “significantly slashed by as much as half a billion pesos.”

Under the proposed 2021 budget, the allocation for the NCMH increased to P1.6 billion from its current budget of P1.2 billion.

But the senator said that NCMH, the country’s biggest mental health hospital, was refused P440 million from its P840-million budget request for its maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for 2021 despite the “extreme” demand for mental health services in the country.

Hontiveros cited reports from the DOH and other agencies that the pandemic led to a “shocking spike in suicides and domestic abuse that we are unable to cope with.”

The NCMH crisis hotline also reported a 100-percent increase in calls, with almost 1000 calls every month on average since the onset of the lockdown in March, she added.

Further, she said experts had earlier warned of a mental health crisis amid the pandemic.

Hontiveros pointed out that cuts made to the MOOE would result in an increase of out-of-pocket expenses of patients and could “paralyze” free services.

“The MOOE is crucial in ensuring that services like teletherapy and the crisis hotlines are conducted under optimal working conditions,” she said.

“Mayroon lamang tayong isang psychiatrist kada 100,000 Pilipino. Kulang na kulang ito ngayong dumodoble ang demands for psych services. We should be studying how to expand these services, not cripple them,” she added.

(There is only one psychiatrist per 100,000 Filipino. This is not enough especially now that the demand for psych services is doubling. We should be studying how to expand these services, not cripple them.)

Hontiveros, likewise, called on the DOH to fully implement all provisions of the Mental Health Act, which she authored.

This, as she expressed concern that only 45 percent of the 2019 budget for mental health programs had been utilized.

“Nakakapagtaka na wala pang kalahati ang nagagastos para sa mental health,” she said.

(It’s puzzling why not even half of the funds allocated for mental health services in 2019 was spent.)

“I am all in for a higher health budget, pero kailangan nating bilisan ang pag-roll out ng pondo para sa mga serbisyo, so that we stand on strong footing as we brace for another pandemic,” she added.

(I am all in for a higher health budget but let’s fast track the utilization of funds for these services, so that we stand on strong footing as we brace for another pandemic.)

Hontiveros also said that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should include packages for mental health immediately as mandated by the mental health law.

“Mental illness is just as crucial as any other illness. With the high cost of therapy and medication, the government should shoulder these financial burdens to encourage people to seek help as well,” she said.

“We should put our money where our mouth is, and truly remain firm in our mandate to protect all aspects of the health of Filipinos,” she added.

EDV