Four ‘legacy specialty hospitals’ of the government will get about P750 million each to enable them to start construction of new buildings next year.
The chairman of the House of Representatives’ appropriations committee, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, said the legislative bicameral conference committee approved the grant of the amount in the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) budget to the Philippine General Hospital, the Philippine Cancer Institute of the PGH, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
The projects involve the acquisition of various specialized medical facilities.
Co said the guidance of Speaker Martin Romualdez was key in ironing out the details of the 2023 budget.
He noted that the 2023 budget also included P540 million total for 20 dialysis centers and a provision expanding coverage of medical referrals by congressmen and senators to include private hospitals through a voucher system.
“We are looking at the medical hotel concept for the realization of the 20-story buildings. Ten stories for hospital facilities, five stories for doctors’ clinics and offices, and five stories for dorm facilities for hospital personnel and patients and their relatives-caregivers-watchers during their hospital stay and recovery. Add to that several levels for underground parking,” Co said.
“This means a lot for those hospitals, particularly their patients and healthcare frontliners since they will be provided with heavily discounted dormitories in the hospital building itself. Caregivers of patients will also benefit since they will have a place to stay during the confinement of their patients,” Co added.
Co stressed that poverty will no longer be an issue in securing medical care. “World-class facilities will be provided to all.”
The House appropriations committee chairman also said five other government hospitals will get allocations each for facilities construction.
These other government medical centers will be sourcing capital outlays as follows:
- Mariano Marcos Memorial Medical Center (P750 million);
- Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (P750 million);
- West Visayas State University Medical Center (P750 million; and
- Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City (P500 million)
From the Unprogrammed Fund, Mariano Marcos Medical Center gets P500 million additional and the Ospital ng Tagaytay also gets P500 million for its medical arts building that is already half completed.
Co added there will be a multi-year hospital modernization program so other government hospitals will also get upgrades. This shall serve as “the centerpiece of a roadmap for massive public sector investment in public health care nationwide.”