DOH’s proposed 2024 budget slashed by P10 billion —Recto

House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto has lamented the P10 billion decrease on the proposed budget of the Department of Health (DOH) for fiscal year 2024.

In a statement on Sunday, the Batangas representative said that DOH’s sought “agency proper” budget for next year will suffer a P10 billion cut—from the P209 billion allocated under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, down to P199 billion under 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 services.

“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 said.

According to the lawmaker, the Medical Assistance for Indigents Fund was reduced by P10 billion, from this year’s P32.6 billion to the proposed P22.2 billion next year.

Specialty hospitals, namely the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, also faced a combined cut of almost 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 said.

The House deputy speaker, however, vowed to increase the budget for the health 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 said.

Several senators also committed to examine the DOH budget 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 said.

She also stressed that “leakages and inefficiencies in spending should be addressed instead of slashing funds.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said there should be no wastage and leakages when it comes to the purchase of vaccines, medicines, vitamins, and other supplies.

“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 said.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. also pointed out that healthcare should be a priority in formulating the national budget.

“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 said.

(Currently, it seems that the funds allocated for our hospitals are insufficient. We must strive to better meet the needs of the sector.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros said even if the country is no longer under a state of public health emergency, the government should not stop investing in the public health 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 budget for 2024 to the House of Representatives.

Under the sought budget for next year, a total of P20 billion has been allocated for the allowances and COVID-19 compensation package for healthcare workers.

The DBM has also set aside over P800 billion to fund programs for medical care and health assistance to marginalized Filipinos.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News