Province-level health system needs national support
The shift to a province-wide health system (PWHS) in the Philippines is expected to significantly improve access to healthcare and services nationwide but major financial and operational obstacles are slowing down this progress, a state-run think tank said.
According to a report from Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), good communication with local leaders is important for gaining support and making the changes successful.
The report, titled “Transitioning to a Province-Wide Health System: Experience of the Provinces of Bataan and South Cotabato”, was authored by Ida Marie Pantig, Pauline Joy Lorenzo, and Tatum Ramos.
The PWHS is part of the Universal Health Care Actxa. This reform aims to improve services and make healthcare accessible across provinces and towns.
To make the system work well, the report noted the importance of providing extra resources to local governments.
The report said that the biggest challenge when starting the system was that many local leaders didn’t fully understand their roles and responsibilities in the new system.
To overcome this, more training sessions and workshops were necessary to inform and educate local government units (LGUs) so they would be willing to support the shift to the PWHS.
The report also stressed the need for LGUs to hire more staff, provide training, and set up special committees.
“This is the case in Bataan wherein the LGU still finds it difficult to recruit doctors and other healthcare workers, particularly in far-flung areas,” the report said.
“Recruitment and retention of healthcare personnel remain a major challenge, especially in remote and geographically isolated areas,” it added.
