DOH appeals for P93 billion in additional funding for 2022

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday asked senators to allot an additional P93 billion to cover several of its programs next year.

“The DOH is appealing for additional P92.8 billion for 17 [programs, activities, and projects] under [the] DOH-[Office of the Secretary] and P260 million for the National Nutrition Council,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said at a Senate budget hearing.

In his presentation, Duque showed that the DOH needed P77.46 billion for programs and projects related to the Universal Health Care Law implementation and COVID-19 initiatives. 

Another P15.33 billion is also needed for the implementation of other health-related laws.

Duque told senators that the additional funding would prioritize the following programs:

-P51.3 billion for healthcare workers' benefits and compensation of those who contracted or died of COVID-19.

-P11.8 billion to “close the remaining nine-month gap” of laboratory testing commodities

-P2.5 billion for the hiring of COVID-19 vaccinators

-P430 million for the renewal of existing personnel responsible for COVID surveillance units; adverse effects following immunization unit; and maintenance and upgrading of information systems like COVIDKaya and FASSSTER, as well as the capital outlay for surveillance activities

-P667 million for whole genome sequencing of the variants of concern

Moreover, Duque said an additional allocation of P3.3 billion is necessary to maintain the current number of deployed nurses.

The funding is needed to comply with the Department of Budget and Management Circular 2021-02 dated August 25, 2021, which upgraded the salary grade (SG) of the Nurse II position from SG-15 to SG-16.

“The total budget requirement needed by the DOH-OSEC will now amount to P254.3 billion and this corresponds to the current [National Expenditure Program] level plus these budget appeals,” he said.

The House of Representatives approved on September 30 a budget of P242 billion for the DOH. — VBL, GMA News