Health chief defends rise in family health budget

HEALTH Secretary Enrique Ona yesterday defended the increase in allocation for the family health and responsible parenting program of the Department of Health (DOH) that jumped from P731 million this year to P2.503 billion for 2012.

Ona admitted the increase in the allocation for the program for next year would be for the purchase of condoms and contraceptives.

During yesterday’s hearing on the DOH budget at the Senate, Ona outlined the programs for the P2.5-billion family health budget, mostly allocated for supplies.

The Senate is deliberating on the proposed P42-billion national outlay for the DOH.

Ona mentioned during the budget hearings that most of the DOH budget would include the purchase of vaccines for senior citizens, micro-nutrients, maternal-child nutrition, newborn screening, rural units with birthing facilities, and obstetrics and neonatal care program.

Ona though did not mention the programs for population control or the purchase of condoms and contraceptives, which earned the ire of pro-life advocates, including Sen. Vicente Sotto III, during the budget deliberations.

Ona later admitted after the hearing that the DOH had included the budget for condoms in the 2012 budget.

“When we talk about family health and responsible parenthood, there are many aspects about it, so we did not physically put a percent or even an amount,” Ona explained.

Report from philSTAR.com