The specialty hospitals mentioned include the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
First, allow us to emphasize that the government gives high regard to these specialty hospitals, which for many decades have been proven beneficial to many Filipinos, particularly the general public. Whatever money is derived by these hospitals from their paying patients are plowed back to defray the expenses on their charity wards and services.
Please note that the subsidies given by government to these specialty hospitals are based on their fiscal year 2021 Quantified Free Service.
*It is likewise important to note that the proposed funds for the four specialty hospitals, as provided both in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2022 and 2023, were actually unchanged, if not, increased.*
To expound on this, we should look into the comparative data stipulated in the 2022 and 2023 NEP for these specific hospitals:
*Lung Center of the Philippines*
NEP 2022 – P404 million
NEP 2023 – P630 million
For the Lung Center of the Philippines, 2022 NEP allocated a total of P404 Million, while 2023 NEP allocated P630 Million or an increase of P225 Million. The 2023 allocated budget also reflects Lung Center of the Philippines’ budget proposal of P630 million.
The seeming decrease in budget for Lung Center of the Philippines comes from comparing the actual 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to the 2023 NEP. In 2022 GAA, the allocated budget was further increased to P683.9 million due to upward adjustments made by Congress.
*Philippine Heart Center*
NEP 2022 – P1.8 billion
NEP 2023 – P1.8 billion
As for the Philippine Heart Center, allocated budget under the NEP 2022 and 2023 remain the same.
The P121 million fund that Rep. Recto pointed out comes from the decrease pertaining to the upward adjustments by Congress in the 2022 GAA, including the construction of oxygen generating plant and purchase of various medical equipment.
*National Kidney and Transplant Institute*
NEP 2022 – P1.3 billion
NEP 2023 – P1.3 billion
The National Kidney and Transplant Institute’s (NKTI) proposed budget for 2023 is the same its allocated budget under the 2022 NEP.
The seeming decrease amounting to P362 million pertains to the congressional adjustments made in the 2022 GAA, which include additional assistance to indigent patients, procurement of electric patient beds, and expansion of the OPD Building Phase II.
*Philippine Children’s Medical Center*
NEP 2022 – 1.1 billion
NEP 2023 – 1.2 billion
For the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), the NEP 2023 provides an increase of P47 million from its proposed allocated fund in NEP 2022.
The P344 million budget decrease raised by Rep. Recto likewise pertains to the Congress-introduced upward adjustments included in the 2022 GAA, which allotted P1.5 billion for PCMC.
Further, allow us to state that the DBM has allotted P23 Billion for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), which will fund the purchase of medical equipment as well as the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of barangay health stations, rural health units, polyclinics, LGU hospitals, DOH hospital, and other various health facilities nationwide.
The DBM yields to the collective wisdom of the honorable members of Congress on whether to increase or decrease the proposed funds of government agencies during the series of budget deliberations and hearings. (PR/DBM)
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