Makati allocates P5 billion for health

MANILA, Philippines — Programs and services on public health got the lion’s share of Makati’s P18.04-billion budget this year, with 29.15 percent or a total of P5.26 billion allocated to the health sector.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said that this year, the budget for the city’s Drug Subsidy Program or Libreng Gamot Para sa Mamamayan has been increased by P75 million, from P1.2 billion in 2019 to P1.27 billion. 

“We have decided to increase the budget for free medicine to meet the growing demand for maintenance medicine and vitamin supplements of yellow card members and their dependents,” Binay said.

She said the city also increased the budget for other programs aimed at improving the quality of health care and medical services for residents. 

“We will continue to upgrade our medical equipment and services while intensifying our preventive health care program. Our aim is to promote wellness from the early stages of life to ensure that the next generation of leaders will be healthy and fit for the role,” Binay said.

Records from the city health department showed that in 2019, a total of 680,831 beneficiaries availed themselves of free medicine, vitamins, antibiotics and other pharmaceutical products through the city’s drug subsidy program.

Of the P5.26-billion budget for the health sector, 42.02 percent or P2.21 billion was allocated for the Patients Care Program and other related projects of the city-run Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) in district two. 

The Makati health department allocated P104.94 million for the communicable disease prevention and control program, which covers tuberculosis, dengue, and HIV/AIDS. The figure is higher by P780,240 than last year.

To promote maternal and newborn health, the city increased the budget by 165.5 percent for its maternal and child care program, which covers the regular prenatal checkups of pregnant women and provision of baby Makatizen kits for newborns.

The amount includes Natal Care, P4.46 million; human milk bank, P2.56 million; comprehensive nutrition program, P3.37 million and adolescent health and development program, P1.62 million. 

For its comprehensive dental health program, the city government allotted P10.41 million to cover free teeth cleaning, fluoride application, dentures, and preventive and curative dental treatment for all ages.  

Meanwhile, major programs of the Makati veterinary services department for animal health and related public health initiatives such as pet vaccination and microchipping have a combined budget of P12.10 million. 

“Due to our efforts in improving the overall health system in Makati, the city was awarded by the Department of Health last year for being one of the best performing local government units in Metro Manila,” Binay said. 

To improve medical services at OsMak, the city procured 116 new medical equipment for, including 63 patient monitors, 10 infusion pumps, seven anesthesia machines, six transport beds, two electrocardiograph machines, three ophthalmology equipment, a blood bank refrigerator, a CT scanner, and a 4K laparoscopy tower that provides visualization and documentation of endoscopy procedures.

Binay said the city governmemt plans to build a cancer institute at OsMak in district 1, which is expected to be completed in 2022.