The government will hire about 1,224 healthcare workers for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) over the next three years.
The move follows the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) approval of funding for the request submitted by the University of the Philippines-Manila, which oversees PGH, to boost its workforce.
The additional positions will be created in four tranches, starting in the first quarter of 2025.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the budget approval stems from President Marcos' directive to ensure quality healthcare services are accessible to those who need them most.
"Ito ay bilang tugon sa kahilingan ng UP-PGH na palakasin ang organizational at manpower capacity ng hospital upang higit na makapagbigay ng dekalidad na healthcare services sa mga pasyente nito lalo na sa mga Pilipinong higit na nangangailangan (This is a response to boost the organizational and manpower capacity of the UP-PGH in order to provide quality healthcare services to patients, especially to Filipinos in need)," Pangandaman said.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro also defended the staffing boost, emphasizing that PGH remains the primary healthcare option for many poor Filipinos.
Castro noted that the additional personnel aim to improve patient care and ensure faster medical attention for those seeking treatment.
"Alam naman po natin na napakarami pong mga Pilipino ang talagang pumupunta sa PGH dahil po ito’y nakakapagbigay ng magandang serbisyo at maaari pong napakaliit na kanilang babayaran kapag po sila ay pumunta sa PGH (We know that many Filipinos rely to the PGH because it provides good service and low hospital bills)," she said.
PGH is a Level III general hospital with a 1,334-bed capacity, serving over 600,000 patients each year.
In March, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that PGH’s emergency room had reached full capacity, prompting the agency to request that other hospitals temporarily take in additional patients.