Kailangan talaga ng pondo! Ping stresses need for more funds for Universal Health Care in 2021

“Kailangan talaga ng pondo rito!”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson stressed this Wednesday evening as he sought the release of much-needed funds to properly implement the Universal Health Program in 2021.

In his interpellation of the Department of Health’s budget for 2021, Lacson lamented the proposed 2021 budget does not have enough funds for the UHC’s medium cost level, which covers fourth- to sixth-class towns and barangays.

“So we are really lagging behind in terms of implementation of UHC. That is a great concern because we are in the midst of a great pandemic,” he said.

“We passed RA 11223 (the Universal Health Care Act) in February 2019, and it is our obligation as lawmakers to see to it that the law is implemented properly,“ he added.

Lacson noted that for 2021, the proposed budget for UHC is P203.1B under the National Expenditure Program, including:

* P71.4B for NHIP/PhilHealth
* P17.3B for Assistance to Indigent Patients
* P16.6B for Human Resources for Health Program
* P4.8B for Health Facilities Enhancement Program
* P2.7B for procurement of PPE
* P1B for provision for COVID19 vaccine
* P1B for purchase of GeneXpert cartridges
* P500M for provision for COVID19 surveillance

“Considering under the NEP, P231B lang ang nilagay for UHC, It barely reaches medium cost estimate for 2021 which is at P254B kung sa medium cost na tayo,” Lacson said.

He pointed out the Medium Cost Estimate for UHC for 2021 is at P254.43B but the GAB for 2021 provides only P215.07B and the Senate committee report provides only P227.25B.

On the other hand, he said the UHC program is due to get some P101 billion from sin taxes in 2019, but at least P17B from Pagcor has yet to be released due to the lack of implementing guidelines.

“How can we implement the UHC with great efficacy and desirable coverage in 2021, kasi napakababa ng allocation?” he asked.

Also, he said even the P227.25B in the Senate committee report on the proposed 2021 budget falls way short of the P254B requirement.

Lacson added the funding for HFEP under the 2020 budget at P8.404B is significantly higher than the 2021 proposed budget under NEP at P4.7B.

It was also subjected to ‘For Later Release,’ with P88 million still being withheld.

On the other hand, he pointed out that under the medium cost estimate, government should build one barangay health stations in remote areas, and Regional Health Units in 4th- to 6th-class municipalities.

“(Dito) walang papasok na private sector diyan to invest. Government will have to practically cover practically 100% of the deficits in those areas… Kailangan talaga ng pondo rito,“ he said.

On the other hand, Lacson lamented that while Sec 37 of the UHC Law provides that 50% of national government share from the income of Pagcor and 40% from the charity fund of PCSO collections shall be used as sources of funds in the implementation of the UHC program, the funds cannot be released as there are still no operational guidelines.

“DOH is the one in charge in issuing the operational guidelines. That’s why BTr cannot yet remit P17.73B, that’s only for Pagcor. When can you finish the crafting of the operational guidelines?” he asked.

“Walang nire-remit kasi walang guidelines. They are waiting for DOH to finish the operational guidelines so they can remit the amount for UHC,” he added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)