Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday questioned the 11- percent cut in the budget of Veterans Memorial Medical Center for next year, saying it would have an adverse impact on sick soldiers.
Marcos said more than P211 million was the allocated budget for the hospital next year.
From the P1,866,436,000 budget of the VMMC in 2019, only P1,654,818,000 will be allocated for the hospital under the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act.
Marcos said she was saddened that many veterans would be affected by the budget cut for the procurement of medical supplies like dextrose and medicines, among other things.
“I was just wondering why the VMMC budget was cut by 11 percent or P211,618 million. We know that the number of aging soldiers has been growing,’’ Marcos said.
“So why the reduction? There should be additional funding because we need good hospitals especially for our soldiers."
Dominador Chiong Jr., program director of Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care, said they were expecting more patients next year amid the lack of funds.
He said P1.13 billion was allotted for the treatment of 10,000 in-patient next year, 1,500 higher than the current year.
VMMC had appealed for P386 million funds in funds to buy medicines for veteran soldiers next year.