Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and vice chairperson of the Finance Committee, expressed his concerns about the proposed budget cut for the Department of Health in 2024, stressing the critical importance of healthcare, particularly as the country continues to recover from the pandemic.

According to the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), reductions are proposed in various healthcare programs. For instance, the Health Facilities Enhancement Program is slated to be cut from P26.8 billion in 2023 to P22.9 billion in 2024. Similarly, the budget for the prevention and control of infectious diseases is proposed to be reduced from P5.8 billion to P4.8 billion.

"Ang estado ng kalusugan ng mga mamamayan sa isang bansa ay isang batayan din ng kalagayan ng kalidad ng buhay," Go said.

He stressed that the government should allocate sufficient funds for health programs led by DOH.

"Kailangang matiyak na maging ang pinakamahihirap nating kababayan, mga hopeless, helpless at walang malalapitan maliban sa pamahalaan ay may access sa de-kalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan," he added.

The senator also highlighted the urgency of strengthening the healthcare system, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Nagulat tayo nang dumating ang COVID-19 sa ating buhay. Nakita natin ang kakulangan ng ating sistemang pangkalusugan," he said.

Despite the challenges, Go sees the pandemic as an opportunity to focus on areas that need improvement. "At dahil dito, sabi ko nga, 'the more we should invest sa ating healthcare system.'"

Go recounted his efforts to increase the DOH budget last year from P296B to P316B for 2023. He also mentioned his opposition to cutting the budget for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in 2019.

"Hindi po tayo pumayag. In fact, dinagdagan pa natin sila noong budget deliberations," he said, adding that RITM has proven to be a crucial institution during the pandemic.

The senator also pushed for additional funding for the Cancer Assistance Fund, which was not initially part of the proposed 2023 budget.

"Maganda na napondohan ito ng Lower House, at dinadagdagan pa namin sa Senado," he said.

Go plans to double the fund next year, acknowledging the financial and emotional toll cancer takes on families, especially those who are less fortunate.

In addition to his proposed budget increases, Go discussed his ongoing initiatives to bring medical services closer to the people.

"Una na rito ang patuloy na operasyon ng Malasakit Centers na ating isinulong at naisabatas noon bilang principal sponsor at pangunahing may-akda. Sa kasalukuyan ay mayroon ng 158 Malasakit Centers, at mahigit pitong milyong Pilipino na ang natulungan nito ayon sa datos ng DOH," Go cited.

Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.

"Pangalawa ay ang pagkakaroon ng Regional Specialty Centers sa mga regional hospitals ng DOH na atin ding isinulong na maisabatas kamakailan lamang bilang principal sponsor at isa sa mga may akda nito. Ang Regional Specialty Centers Act ay multi-year plan para ilapit ang specialized medical services sa ating mga kababayan. Halimbawa, ang may sakit sa puso, hindi na kailangang sa Maynila pa magpaopera dahil doon na siya pupunta sa DOH regional hospital na malapit sa kanilang lugar," he explained.

Go is also the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the recently signed RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers (RSC) Act. The newly enacted law aims to create additional specialty centers in various regions, thereby ensuring that Filipinos have access to specialized medical services without the need to travel to Manila.

"Pangatlo naman ay ang pagpapatayo ng Super Health Centers sa iba't ibang sulok ng bansa na ating sinikap na mapondohan. Ang Super Health Center naman ay medium type version ng polyclinic, at improved version ng rural health unit. Sa SHC ay mapagkakalooban ang pasyente ng primary care, konsultasyon at early detection ng kanyang sakit," he further said.

Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector in the country, especially in grassroots communities. Go assured that substantial funding has been allocated for Super Health Centers under the budget of the Department of Health (DOH). A total of 307 centers were funded for 2022, with an additional 322 slated for 2023.

"Kaya bilang lingkod bayan, tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya at sisikapin nating mas ilapit pa ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito—lalo na ang mga mahihirap at biktima ng krisis," concluded Go.