DBM: Specialty hospital budgets similar to proposals

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified that the 2024 budget for three out of four specialty hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH)—Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and Philippine Heart Center—remains similar to their proposed funding.

However, the Philippine Children's Medical Center will receive a lower budget in 2024 compared to its proposal.

Initially, reports suggested significant budget cuts for all four hospitals, but DBM assured that only PCMC faces reduced funding while others have budgets aligned with their proposals.

Senators criticized the proposed DOH budget, which is P311.3 billion—3% lower than this year's allocation.