Health workers’ group slams measly 2021 DOH budget

MANILA, Philippines — A group of health workers on Monday trooped to the House of Representatives to protest the government’s minuscule 2021 budget allotment for the Department of Health (DOH) in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said the P127.77 billion allotment for DOH from the proposed P4.506 trillion 2021 national budget does not reflect the objective of prioritizing health-related programs to solve the health problem brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AHW president Robert Mendoza said the government should allocate at least 10% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the equivalent of P2 trillion to direct public health services to show it is serious in dealing with the health crisis.

“To defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, they should increase the budget for health,” Mendoza said in a statement.

The proposed DOH budget is only No. 8 among the Departments and is only 0.6% of the GDP.

The allotment is akin to giving P3.16 health budget per Filipino per day, the group pointed out.

The AHW likewise, stressed that the budget allotment for COVID-19 response is “minuscule with a total of P11.95 billion given the extensiveness and hazardous threat of the virus.”

“We are disappointed that the government did not even allot budget for free, mandatory and regular swab testing for all health workers, benefits like special risk allowance, COVID-19 hazard pay, free accommodation, and transportation for health workers,” Mendoza said.

“This administration has no care and gives no importance for us health workers who are dedicated to serving our patients even amidst COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

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JPV