Health department gets P306M for rural health services

MANILA — The Department of Health has received P306.6 million in continuing appropriations under the 2011 budget to fund to beef up services in rural areas.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said yesterday the fund would be used to upgrade various hospitals and rural health units (RHUs) across the country under the DOH’s health facilities enhancement program (HFEP).

“In improving our public hospitals and rural health centers, we can extend the reach of our healthcare services and offer high-quality medical treatment to those who need it most,” Abad said.

Of the released funds, P182.7 million will be used for buildings and structure outlay while P123.9 million is earmarked for expenses related to the hospital machinery and equipment.

Abad also said the funds would ramp up the Aquino administration’s efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly those related to improving maternal health care nationwide.

The MDGs are a set of minimum commitments with the United Nations to eradicate poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality in education, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and ensure environmental sustainability by 2015.

The HFEP was designed to boost health care services across government hospitals and regional health centers, particularly with respect to obstetric and newborn health services.

“Through the release, we hope to strengthen both the infrastructure and equipment components in the provision of medical aid so we can better respond to patients in public health facilities,” he added. /INQUIRER