Lawmakers propose 5% GDP for health, up from 1.3%

Makabayan bloc lawmakers have filed House Bill (HB) No. 1973, proposing that at least five percent of the country's GDP be allocated to health services.

Currently, only 1.3% of the GDP is allocated to health, amounting to P270 billion for 2025, which is lower than previous years and ranks third highest in out-of-pocket expenses among Southeast Asian countries.

The bill aims to align with World Health Organization recommendations that suggest a minimum allocation of five percent of GDP for health services, approximately P1.3 trillion annually, to improve healthcare accessibility and reduce hospitalization costs for Filipinos.

ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Party List Representative Renee Co cited the need to reallocate non-productive expenses like debt servicing to achieve the proposed allocation and mandate automatic appropriations for public health expenditures under Section 31 of Presidential Decree No. 1177.

The measure also seeks to amend the 1997 Administrative Code by explicitly citing that five percent of GDP should be spent on 'public health expenditures' in line with the Constitution's mandate to protect and promote the right to health.