INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers have expressed alarm over the slashed budget of the Department of Health (DOH) in the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program, saying that the country’s healthcare system should not be disregarded.
House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto earlier announced that the DOH budget for 2024 has been cut by at least P10 billion.
According to Recto, the lower allocation will most likely affect the four major specialty hospitals in Metro Manila – the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Heart Center of the Philippines, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
“Filipinos still spend around 40 percent out of pocket expenses for their medical needs, which contributes to poverty in the country. This is why we need to ensure that there will be enough funding for programs that directly benefit our indigent patients. After what the country went through for the past three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it has strained our already overburdened healthcare system, we cannot put healthcare as a second priority,” said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel meantime said that there is a need to scrutinize the department’s proposed budget, but he stressed that no “bloating” should be made.
“We should scrutinize in detail the budget of the DOH. We should not cut the budget for the basic services. But in calculating the amounts needed for the basic services we should also not allow the bloating of these amounts,” said Pimentel.
Senator Francis Tolentino, on the other hand, said the four specialty hospitals in Metro Manila deserve more resources.
“[These hospitals] treat non-communicable chronic diseases that are long-lasting such as pulmonary fibrosis and other cardiovascular ailments, among others, affecting a large segment of our population,” said Tolentino.
This was backed by Senator JV Ejercito who stated that sacrifices can be made elsewhere, but the country should not compromise its budget for health programs.
Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara, who sits as the chairperson of the chamber’s committee on finance, said he is confident that the budget for DOH “will be increased” upon thorough review.
“I’m confident the budget will be increased after it passes through both houses and the bicam. Legislators historically augment the program for medical assistance for indigents,” said Angara.