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Hospital budget cuts
THE PROPOSED major defunding of government hospitals starting next year is upsetting. Twenty-six national hospitals and dozens of local government-run medical facilities may be adversely affected. Instead of a budget cut, isn’t it more sensible to ensure adequate financial support for medical equipment and personnel? This would ensure that poor patients can continue to get free or low-cost healthcare. After all, government hospitals primarily serve the poorest of the poor.
In the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA), 12 specialty hospitals will see a combined cut of P446.8 million. This is 25 percent of the 2016 MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses) of P1.81 billion which is now pegged at P1.36 billion in the 2017 GAA.
Is President Duterte aware of this proposed budget cut by the Department of Health and its dire consequences to poor patients? This is the opposite of the Cuban public healthcare model which he instructed Secretary Paulyn Ubial to learn from.
The Cuban health system has been praised and cited extensively as one of the best example of an efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery system which is accessible to all, regardless of economic status. Among the major achievements of the Cuban healthcare system are the following: efficient and effective primary and preventive healthcare deliveries due to the political will of the government; low-cost of medicines; good quality of maternal and child care; and the noteworthy ratio of healthcare professionals to the Cuban population.
We cannot allow a haphazard budget cut to jeopardize the health and well-being of millions of poor Filipinos. Instead of slashing the budget, isn’t it better to augment the shortages in the allocation for social services, including healthcare?
The Duterte government needs to put its money where its mouth is. The promise of improving people’s access to health services cannot be realized with a health program that cuts down on expenditure for government hospitals.
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