Go urges gov’t agencies to address UHC issues

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Wednesday urged the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to look into the pressing issues concerning the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

This, as the Senate Committee on Finance – chaired by Go – approved on committee level the proposed P160.15 billion budget of the Health department for 2020.

The senator expressed his full support for the health department but raised concerns regarding the budget allocated for the implementation of the UHC Law, saying that it might not be enough to cover all expenditures under said law.

“You have a proposed 2020 budget of P67.35 Billion in the National Expenditure Program,” Go asked the representatives of the health department present. “Is this enough for the implementation of the Universal Health Care next year?”

The health officials responded, saying that “with the 67 billion, the department will not be able to execute the full intent of the UHC as the budget approved is lower than what is proposed.”

The Health department appealed for help from the senators to increase the budget for the program and the senator concurred, saying that he will ask the DBM to sit down with the DoH and PhilHealth.

Go also cited the proposed budget for Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City as an example wherein a public hospital with high bed capacity is given minimal increase in their budget.

The senator also urged the DoH to further improve the delivery of their services and assistance, as he has previously visited hospitals in dire need of their assistance, particularly in regard to their facilities and infrastructure.