P12 B earmarked for medical program

MANILA, Philippines - Some P12.7 billion will be spent when the government deploys thousands of nurses, midwives, dentists, and doctors to poor and far-flung communities next year, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo said the allocation to deploy 12,540 nurses, 5,749 midwives, 480 dentists and 398 doctors was included in the suggested outlay for the Department of Health under the proposed P2.606-trillion national budget for 2015.

“We are counting on the mobilization to improve the delivery of basic health services, while providing temporary employment plus training for our idle nurses and midwives,” he said.

The House of Representatives committee on higher and technical education chairman said they will be assigned to public hospitals, barangay health stations, and rural health units.

“We are also hopeful that the extra competence that our nurses and midwives will acquire from the deployment will later help them qualify for more rewarding jobs here or abroad,” he said.