House panel OKs funding for hospital 'speciality centers' bill
The funding provision of the House bill (HB) seeking to establish specialty centers in hospitals under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH) has been given the green light.
This, after the House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co approved on Monday, March 20 the funding provision of the unnumbered substitute bill pursuing such specialty centers.
The substitute measure is a consolidation of House Bill (HB) Nos. 4334, 5563, and 6666.
Once signed into law, the measure would better capacitate DOH hospitals on cancer care, cardiovascular care, renal care, physical therapy, and neonatal care, among others.
The proposed statute states that the budget needed for the initial implementation of the specialty centers would be charged against the DOH’s 2023 appropriation, or its allocation in the national budget.
Batanes lone district Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., House Committee on Health chairman, said that the bill would help the government fulfill its mandate of providing universal health care to Filipinos.
Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson and Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo presided over the virtual meeting of the panel, where the approval took place.