DoH seeks P19B budget to fight H1N1

DoH seeks P19B budget to fight H1N1
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:54:00 07/06/2009


MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DoH) will ask for a P19.839-billion supplemental budget to fight the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

Duque said he would ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to include the request for additional funding in her State of the Nation Address on July 27.

He said it was important for the DoH to be prepared to treat A(H1N1) patients and avert its spread since the country has yet to see how the virus would evolve.

Duque and representatives of the World Health Organization warned that the public should not be complacent because the virus could mutate into a virulent strain.

The P19.839-billion budget would be used for the treatment of admitted cases (P3.6 billion); procurement of pandemic vaccines (P16 billion); support for center for health development or DoH regional offices (P150 million); personal protective equipment (P22 million); hospital support (P46 million); and laboratory equipment (P21 million).

With the surge in cases, Duque said laboratory testing centers would open this week at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila and at the Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu.

The Philippines is the eighth country in the world with the most number of cases with 1,700 cases, the World Health Organization said.

In a separate statement, Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon said the proposed supplemental budget should be better spent on capability upgrading of DoH hospitals and laboratories to prepare for the pandemic, and for the vaccination of 400,000 persons.