The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, Feb. 12, said it is seeking additional government funding for the country’s HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria programs as the Global Fund gradually shifts its support strategy.

In a statement, DOH noted that reduced international assistance could impact critical interventions and urged the government to bridge the financial gap to sustain efforts in combating these diseases.

“It is clear that governments, including ours, must recognize our own priorities and take more responsibility for financing these priorities in our national health budgets—lessening our dependence on international funding cycles and external decisions and protocols,” Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said.

“Increasing domestic financing is one of the most sustainable solutions,” Herbosa stressed, noting that “we, as a country, must find ways to source funds that international partners have previously funded.”

Seeking funds

The DOH, in partnership with the Philippine Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund (PCCM-GF), assured the public that it is identifying various sources of domestic financing to address the overall projected funding gap in HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis programs.

The DOH said it is “optimizing public financial management strategies” to ensure the sustainability of critical health programs through a Transition and Public Financial Management (PFM) Plan.

This plan, the DOH explained, aims to increase domestic health financing by mobilizing PhilHealth reimbursements, optimizing DOH budget utilization, and securing alternative funding sources such as grants, loans, and investments from local government units (LGUs) and the private sector.

Decline in fund allocations

During the PCCM-GF meeting on Feb. 12, the DOH reported that the decline in foreign fund allocations for the Philippines may “pose significant challenges,” as the country relies on support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM) for essential commodities such as second-line drugs (SLDs), antiretroviral therapy (ART), and human resources for health (HRH).

However, the DOH and PCCM-GF have already identified an initial list of alternative funding sources to offset the decline in foreign aid.

The Transition and PFM Plan outlines key steps, including procurement and supply chain reforms—especially under the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009)—digitalizing financial management systems such as the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS), and leveraging financing mechanisms to improve budget execution.

“Additionally, the Transition and PFM Plan seeks to enhance localized health program implementation, given the country's devolved health system, by supporting LGUs in the procurement and delivery of essential health commodities,” the DOH said.