The decreasing share for health in the national government budget\nshows the low priority given to this, said research group IBON. This affects the\ncountry\u2019s ability to address public health challenges such as the novel\ncoronavirus (nCoV), the group said.
\n
\nIBON said that while the allocation for the health sector in the national\nbudget increased from Php177.7 billion in 2019 to Php185.5 billion in 2020, its\noverall share in the national budget fell from 4.85% to 4.52 percent. Most of\nthe small Php7.8 billion or 4.4% increase is even eaten up by inflation.
\n
\nHowever, the amount allocated for the Epidemiology and Surveillance Program\nwhich monitors, investigates and analyzes disease outbreaks was cut by more\nthan half, said the group. This decreased by Php147.4 million from Php262.9\nmillion in 2019 to Php115.5 million in 2020.
\n
\nIBON also noted that the budget for the health department’s Health Systems\nStrengthening Program was cut by Php6.6 billion from Php25.9 billion to Php19.3\nbillion. This program is for ensuring a wide range of human health resources including doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists,\nallied health professions, community health workers, social health workers and\nother health care providers and management and support personnel.
\n
\nThe country’s latest doctor-to-patient ratio remains too low at 0.3 per 10,000.\nThis is far below the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) recommended ratio of 1-1.5\ndoctors per 1,000 population, said IBON. ###<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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