by Krissy Aguilar, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 Sep 2019
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) needed P257 billion to roll out the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, but was given only P160 billion.
Health secretary Francisco Duque III told the Senate committee on finance on Tuesday, Sept. 17, that the DOH’s proposed budget for 2020 is P160 billion and asked Congress’ support to fill the gap.
The allocation was lower than 2019’s P169 billion, said Duque.
For UHC alone, Duque said the DOH needed at least P257 billion.
“This is something that we struggle with and we need the support of Congress to perhaps pour in the pre-requisite investments,” Duque said.
“This is for the promotion, for the treatment, the maintenance and health of the Filipino people,” he told senators.
Despite the budget lack, Duque told reporters in an ambush interview that health programs would continue like immunization, the fight against TB, HIV.
Duque said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) needed to expand its primary care benefit provision to fit the UHC which aims to provide health services to more Filipinos.
PhilHealth has been embroiled in scandals following reports that tens of millions of health care funds had been wasted on corrupt transactions like payments for ghost health care services./tsb
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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