DOH proposes P195-billion budget for 2023

The Department of Health (DOH) has asked the Congress for a budget of P195 billion for 2023.

The proposed amount reflects close to P8 billion increase from its P187.84 billion budget for the current fiscal year, according to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation.

It covers the budget of the Office of the Secretary, National Nutrition Council and the Philippine National AIDS Council.

The DOH budget will include P22.92 billion under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program to be used for the construction, upgrading or expansion of government health care facilities and purchase of hospital equipment for such facilities.  The amount is also allotted for purchase of equipment for COVID-19 response and construction of ongoing projects.

Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients will get P22.39 billion for hospitalization and assistance to indigent patients.

Around P29.12 billion was also appropriated for the procurement of drugs, medicines and vaccines, including medical and dental supplies for distribution to government health care facilities.

Of the said amount, 80 percent shall be allocated to provinces where the incidence of disease is high, according to the budget document’s special provision.

Under the special provisions, all income generated from the operation of specialized hospitals, medical centers, and other hospitals under the DOH shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank used to augment hospitals and healthcare facilities’ maintenance and other operation expenses to ensure the delivery of a quality health services and safety of patients and healthcare workers.

GMA News Online sought for the projects and programs that the DOH will present in the budget deliberations but it has not yet reply as of this posting.

The DOH budget is part of the appropriations under the health sector, which will get P296.3 billion or 10.4 percent increase in 2023.

The proposed budget was submitted to the House of Representatives on Monday, with deliberations targeted to be completed before October 1.—LDF, GMA News