DBM OKs P454M for medical vehicles

BUDGET officials green-lit the release of P454 million for the procurement of 173 medical vehicles under the Department of Health's Health Facilities Enhancement Program (DoH-HFEP).

Approved by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the initiative was expected to bolster the healthcare system by improving the accessibility and quality of services across the country.

Project funding will cover the purchase of 161 land ambulances, two mobile primary care units (mobile clinics), four sea ambulances, four passenger vans, a patient transport van, and a mobile blood donation van. These vehicles will supplement the first batch of 141 units that were approved in June 2024.

«Purchasing additional medical vehicles will surely augment the ongoing structural enhancements of our health care system,» Pangandaman said.

The HFEP is part of the DoH's broader strategy to address gaps in healthcare delivery and make services more accessible to communities. The program is funded under the 2024 General Appropriations Act.