THE Department of Health (DOH) is asking for more funds for the country’s mental health program as well as for the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the call after the Senate held a public hearing on the implementation of the Mental Health Act as well as the condition of the NCMH.
“Hopefully, we will be given additional budget for our National Mental Health Program (NMPH) so that we can expand access to our mental health services,” Vergeire said.
On Tuesday, Sen. Christopher Go pushed for the establishment of special mental health centers nationwide. Go, chair of the Committee on Health and Demography, said special mental health centers can be put in regional hospitals run by the DOH so that they can be reached by more people experiencing mental health issues.
He said expenses for consultations can be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as there is a special provision in the 2023 national budget of P21 billion that can be used by the agency for mental health concerns. — Gerard Naval
