House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto has lamented the P10 billion lower on the proposed funds of the Department of Health (DOH) for fiscal yr 2024.
In an announcement on Sunday, the Batangas consultant stated that DOH’s sought “agency proper” funds for subsequent yr will endure a P10 billion lower—from the P209 billion allotted beneath the 2023 General Appropriations Act, all the way down to P199 billion beneath the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Recto blamed “the big payroll and overhead in maintaining a large bureaucracy, plus rising debt service” for boxing out social companies.
“One major component of the DOH budget – Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases – has been earmarked P1.7 billion, a deep P1.2 billion cut from this year’s P2.9 billion, and even lower than the Palace’s original request of P2 billion for 2023,” he stated.
According to the lawmaker, the Medical Assistance for Indigents Fund was lowered by P10 billion, from this yr’s P32.6 billion to the proposed P22.2 billion subsequent yr.
Specialty hospitals, particularly the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, additionally confronted a mixed lower of virtually P818 million, he added.
“Overall, the health services sector has a proposed cash-based budget of P325 billion for 2024, P2 billion lower than this year,” Recto stated.
The House deputy speaker, nonetheless, vowed to extend the funds for the well being sector.
“[J]ust like in the past, Congress and the executive, in the spirit of cooperation, will find ways on how to increase the health budget,” Recto stated.
Several senators additionally dedicated to look at the DOH funds when it reaches the Senate.
“As it is, the budget of the four specialty hospitals is wanting and should be boosted to provide service to more Filipinos, especially the poor. A cut is not the way to go to have a healthy citizenry,” Senator Grace Poe stated.
She additionally confused that “leakages and inefficiencies in spending should be addressed instead of slashing funds.”
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III stated there ought to be no wastage and leakages in terms of the acquisition of vaccines, medicines, nutritional vitamins, and different provides.
“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,” he stated.
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. additionally identified that healthcare ought to be a precedence in formulating the nationwide funds.
“Sa kasalukuyan nga ay parang kulang na kulang na ang ating pondong inilalaan para sa ating mga ospital kaya dapat sikapin na mas matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng sektor,” Revilla stated.
(Currently, plainly the funds allotted for our hospitals are inadequate. We should try to raised meet the wants of the sector.)
Senator Risa Hontiveros stated even when the nation is now not beneath a state of public well being emergency, the federal government shouldn’t cease investing within the public well being care system “as we rebuild it post-pandemic, and to catch up on neglected aspects of our overall health and well-being mula NCDs, immunization, nutrition at other infectious and communicable diseases.”
Earlier this month, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted the P5.768 trillion proposed funds for 2024 to the House of Representatives.
Under the sought funds for subsequent yr, a complete of P20 billion has been allotted for the allowances and COVID-19 compensation package deal for healthcare staff.
The DBM has additionally put aside over P800 billion to fund applications for medical care and well being help to marginalized Filipinos.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
