DOH eyes PHP1-B outlay for new drug rehab centers

TACLOBAN CITY, July 17 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing about PHP1 billion budget from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to establish treatment and rehabilitation centers for an estimated 1.8 million drug dependents in the country.

“We need new facilities that can cater about 15,000 dependents. That would mean building new facilities that will cater to three times the current capacity,” Ubial said during Saturday’s press briefing here.

The country has 20 existing drug rehabilitation centers managed by the DOH and local government units with a capacity to treat 5,000 patients.

Citing estimates of the Dangerous Drugs Board, the cabinet official said there are 1.8 million drug dependents in the country with one percent or about 18,000 of them need in-house treatment.

Given the existing number of rehabilitation facilities, the health department requires PHP270 million to carry out recovery initiatives for thousands of self-confessed drug dependents. The requirement is expected to triple next year.

This year’s budget request will mainly be used for capacity building of local government units to implement outpatient program for drug users with less serious addiction problem.

“We asked our staff in DOH-Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers to multiply their capacity as we strengthen our support to local government units for them to lead in the community-based rehabilitation,” Ubial added.

Aside from local government, the DOH also solicited the support of the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, psychiatrists’ group, and academe to assist drug dependents.

“The idea is to have cadre of health workers that are trained to do the assessment. They will evaluate each drug personality if they are fit for outpatient program or residential program,” Ubial added.

The health department intends to standardize the assessment form used for drug dependents who surrender to the authorities.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier identified PAGCOR’s earnings as the source of funds for health-related programs, including drug rehabilitation. (PNA)
BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO