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On Monday, Health Secretary Carlos Mellado López cautioned that emergency funding for COVID-19 and dengue will cease on December 31, which could lead to the discontinuation of various educational initiatives and existing programs.
He made these remarks during the Incoming Transition Committee hearings after being questioned by former lawmaker Jorge Colberg Toro, a member of the committee. Mellado indicated that additional items might be jeopardized if the new administration fails to take action.
During his appearance at the hearing, the health chief highlighted the substantial progress made in the infrastructure, services, and management of the health system, emphasizing that these improvements have laid a robust groundwork for future administrations, while also tackling ongoing issues related to equity and financial stability.
Overall, Mellado stated that operations have been centralized by acquiring a new headquarters, modernizing processes, and optimizing resources for the benefit of the population.
He mentioned that the contracting and bidding processes have been enhanced, ensuring transparency in fund management, and that the overall budget for the Health Department increased by 50%.
Under his guidance, the department officially initiated the process to obtain public health accreditation, a historic milestone for the agency, Mellado noted.
