Proposed 2024 nat'l budget includes fund for medical care, support to underprivileged
The national government has proposed a significant budget of
P875.6 billion for the provision of medical care and support to underprivileged
Filipinos.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman
emphasized the government's commitment to utilizing every aspect of the Fiscal
Year 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to align with President Ferdinand
R. Marcos Jr.'s agenda for prosperity.
"Let me remind everyone that every peso in the P5.768 trillion Fiscal Year
2024 national budget was optimized so we can remain on track with our agenda
for prosperity. It is the administration's fervent hope that this budget will
continue to lay the groundwork for future-proofing the economy and making the
country's growth inclusive and sustainable, not just for the Filipinos today,
but also the future generations," Secretary Pangandaman said.
President Bongbong Marcos, in his budget message, pointed out the
administration’s efforts to provide free healthcare to the public.
“By eliminating barriers to healthcare, such as financial constraints or
discrimination, we can ensure that essential medical care will be accessible to
all,” said the President.
For instance, the National Health Insurance Program of the
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will have a budget of P101.5
billion to subsidize the health insurance needs of the following: 12.75 million
indigents under the National Household Targeting System; 8.26 million senior
citizens under Republic Act (RA) 10645 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
2010; 136,030 unemployed persons with disability; 15,683 financially-incapable
point-of-service patients; and 25,512 PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn
beneficiaries.
In addition, the amount of P22.3 billion will be available to extend medical
assistance to 1.31 million indigent and financially-incapacitated patients.
Cancer Control, Assistance Fund
A total of P1 billion will fund the cancer control program for the prevention
and control of non-communicable diseases, plus another P1 billion for the
cancer assistance fund.
An allotment of P8.3 billion will fund family health and responsible parenthood
programs consisting of immunization (P7.1 billion), family planning and
reproductive health (P750 million), oral health (P212 million), and nutrition
(P176 million).
Support for Health Workers
Funds amounting to P18 billion will be allotted to the national health
workforce support system for health workers in remote, depressed areas.
A separate P20 billion will go to the health emergency allowance
and COVID-19 compensation package for both eligible healthcare and non-healthcare
workers.
Mental Health
Commodities
The government will likewise help Filipinos suffering from the
psychiatric effects of the pandemic.
An allotment of P683 million will fund various products to bring
relief to the mental health of 124,246 patients.
Nutrition for the Young
Hunger and nutrition issues, especially among the young, will be
addressed via the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project, a collaboration
between the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development with a funding of P2.8 billion.
The project will consist of a comprehensive package of nutrition
interventions to reduce stunting in 235 municipalities.
Feeding Programs
Another nutrition campaign, the School-Based Feeding Program, will be allotted
P11.7 billion to provide hot meals and other food products for 220 days, and
milk for 55 days, to malnourished students from kinder to grade 6.
Furthermore, the Supplementary Feeding Program will have P4.1 billion to
provide supplementary hot meals to 2 million children enrolled in local
government unit-managed child development centers and supervised neighborhood
play groups. This program aims to ensure the essential nourishment of children
in their critical, early years.
A new addition to the government’s social protection projects is
the Philippine Food Strategic Transfer and Alternative Measures Program
(STAMP), which will be allotted P1.9 billion for its pilot run and
implementation.
Yet another project to mitigate hunger and nutrition among financially
challenged families is the provision of digital cards to buy food for 50,000 of
the most food-poor households. (DBM/PIA-Caraga)
