The finance department has identified health projects eligible for funding outside the national budget, including infrastructure and medical equipment support for the Department of Health (DOH) and local governments.
The Department of Finance (DOF) said funding would come from nontax revenues, including those from the privatization of government assets, grants, other income and excess funds from government-owned and controlled corporations as mandated by Congress under the General Appropriations Act of 2024.
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The DOF said this had nothing to do with the cases filed, including plunder, against its officials following an order to transfer P89.9 billion in excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to government coffers.
“Even if there was no fund transfer yet, the government used to have a lot of allocations for health projects,” the DOF said.
Funding for local facilities
Among the projects for funding is the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, which aims to provide infrastructure, medical equipment and transport support to local government units, DOH hospitals, Centers for Health Development and other health facilities, amounting to P14.31 billion.
About P136 million is allotted for the Operations of the Philippine Health Laboratory System, in boosting DOH’s laboratory functions for disease surveillance.
Meanwhile, P292.03 million was earmarked for the Regulation of Regional Health Facilities and Services, which funds the operations of the Center for Health Development’s Regional Licensing and Enforcement Division.
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Also included in the lineup is P315.72 million for the hiring of immunization vaccinators and P467.20 million for the Health Promotion Program, which aims to enhance health literacy and promotion policies.
A funding of P10.10 million will go to the International Health Policy Development and Cooperation project, which strengthens collaboration with international health partners.
Meanwhile, the P10-million Health Facility Policy and Plan Development initiative will enhance health services by creating policies and standards for establishing, managing and operating health facilities nationwide.
The Pharmaceutical Management initiative, with a budget of P20 million, will implement the National Drug Policy, conduct policy studies and provide recommendations to improve access to medicines.