DOH seeks P81 B in 2013 budget

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is seeking a budget of P81 billion for 2013 to enable the Philippines to meet the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) that five percent of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) should be invested in health.

DOH Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said the country allocates only 3.2 percent of GDP to health, which is equivalent to P43 billion.

“Hopefully, if this (budget proposal) will be approved, we’ll be able to meet the recommended budget of the WHO,” she noted.

The proposal had been submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority for review.

According to Ubial, if the budget proposal is approved, it will help the country achieve its targets under the United Nations-initiated Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015, particularly on improving maternal mortality.

She added the Philippines may not be able to achieve MDG-5 primarily because a mother’s health is usually not given priority in a family and they are the ones who usually sacrifice when the family’s earnings are not enough.

Because of this, MDG-4 on the reduction of child mortality will be achieved but the goal to reduce the country’s maternal mortality rate from 162 to 52 per 100,000 live births by 2015 is not likely to happen.

To reduce maternal deaths, the DOH had long underscored the importance for mothers to give birth not in homes but in healthcare facilities attended by trained health professionals.

The DOH maintained that in delivering babies at home, the lives of both the mother and the newborn are at greater risk, especially in case of complicated pregnancies.