DOH's P19.6 billion for health facilities in 2022 nearly three times than current budget

The Duterte administration is increasing the budget for the country’s healthcare infrastructure for next year.

During the House Committee on Appropriations’ hearing on the proposed P5.024 trillion budget for 2022 on Thursday, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Rolando Toledo said next year’s budget earmarked P19.6 billion for the Department of Health's  (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).

The amount for the DOH’s HFEP is more than twice the P7.84 billion allocated for the program this year.

Toledo said the budget will finance "the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of health facilities and purchase of medical equipment and procurement of ambulances.”

The DBM official said P1.4 billion of the amount will be allotted for newly-established hospitals.

Another P819 million will also be allocated for personal protective equipment for hospitals.

The One Hospital Command Center, which refers COVID-19 patients to various treatment facilities, will get P106 million to ensure the efficient health facility referral system.—LDF, GMA News