MANILA, Philippines — The “budget-cut epidemic” afflicting the country’s health sector has spread to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which suffered a P456-million reduction in its proposed budget for 2020, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said on Monday. That’s basically what it is.”National barometer“Funding for [PGH] is the national barometer of our health priorities. “If the national budget increases every year without fail, then the budget of PGH must rise with it. “The proposed 2020 budget of the PGH will harm its patients. The House approved the proposed budget for 2020 on third reading on Sept. 20, but allowed itself a window of time to make changes to the proposal through a small committee, a process questioned by senators.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 30, 2019 20:48 UTC