(File Photo)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – In support to the inclusive healthcare system for Filipinos, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) proposed a total budget allocation of P875.6 to fund national government programs that are anchored on the provision of accessible healthcare services.
“By eliminating barriers to healthcare, such as financial constraints or discrimination, we can ensure that essential medical care will be accessible to all,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his budget message.
The said allocation will primarily cover the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) with P101.15 billion.
This budget, on the other hand, will be utilized to subsidize the health insurance premiums of 12.75 million indigents under the National Household Targeting System, 8.26 million senior citizens entitled to benefits following the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010, 136,030 unemployed persons with disabilities (PWDs), 15,683 point-of-service patients (POS) assessed as financially-incapable, and 25,512 beneficiaries of the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) program.
Meanwhile, P22.3 billion has been set aside for the medical assistance of 1.31 million indigent and financially incapacitated patients who have no access to healthcare.
In addition, the budget department also made significant provisions for the implementation of programs that are aimed at the prevention and control of communicable (P4.8 billion) and non-communicable diseases (P1.7 billion). This is on top of the P1 billion budget allotment to the Cancer Control Program and another P1 billion for the Cancer Assistance Fund.
An allocation of P8.3 billion will likewise be provided for family health programs including Immunization (P7.1 billion), family planning and reproductive health (P750 million), oral health (P212 million), and nutrition (P176 million).
The National Health Workforce Support System will receive P18 billion to provide promotive and curative assistance to healthcare workers who reside in remote and depressed areas while P20 billion has been allotted for the health emergency allowance and COVID-19 compensation package of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare personnel.
To cater to the 126,246 Filipinos experiencing mental health challenges, the DBM will also allocate P683 million to fund the essential mental health commodities under the Department of Health (DOH).
The Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project, a joint initiative of the DOH and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will receive a total funding of P2.8 billion to address the hunger and nutrition crisis through the provision of comprehensive nutrition intervention packages in 235 municipalities.
In a bid to strengthen social protection, an allotment of P11.7 billion will fund the School-Based Feeding Program to provide nutritious meals for 220 days and milk for 55 days among Kinder to Grade 6 students who are classified as wasted and severely wasted.
To further address gaps in nutrition, P4.1 billion will go to the Supplementary Feeding Program which aims to cater to 2 million children enrolled in child development centers and neighborhood play groups that are under the management and supervision of local government units (LGUs).
Moreover, P1.9 billion has been allotted for the pilot implementation of the newly-introduced nutrition-specific initiative Philippine Food STAMP (Strategic Transfer and Alternative Measures Program) which initially targets to distribute about 50,000 digital cards among the most food-poor households. (DBM/PIA-NCR)
