Antique: The Antique provincial board will conduct ocular inspections of eight district hospitals in the province in the next two weeks to help management identify their priority needs. Board Member Karmila Rose Dimamay, chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, stated that they aim to understand the actual conditions to prioritize budget allocation appropriately.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dimamay highlighted during their regular session that Antique's national tax allocation for this year amounts to PHP2.7 billion, with a significant portion, 32.6 percent or PHP676 million, dedicated to hospitals. However, this funding still falls short of meeting the hospitals' needs. Hospital chiefs are expected to submit their lists of required medicines and equipment to aid in this assessment.
Further funding sources are being considered by the board, including potential support from the Department of Health, as the current budget is insufficient. Board Member Fernando Corvera Sr. expressed optimism about the Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), which aims to provide outpatient medicines through pharmacies.
Corvera emphasized the importance of the GAMOT program, hoping it will facilitate access to necessary medications for outpatients. The initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance healthcare services in the province.