PHAP the Ultimate OPLAN by Gio Alejo ADMU
Transcript of PHAP the Ultimate OPLAN by Gio Alejo ADMU
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Whether the government admit it or not, there is certainly a great disparity between those
at the top of the social ladder who will check-in at hotel-like hospitals at the earliest signs of flu,
and the disadvantaged individual who will put medical treatment as the last priority in spending
whatever is left of his money. Health is not the main concern of Juan dela Cruz, and one of the
reasons on why this may be is the fact that even our leaders themselves have not invested much
on it.
The process in which a suitable health care program can fit an entire country entails a lot
of time, effort and money on the part of the government, but if the Philippines does not start
acting on it now, a lot more Baby Rauls will have to suffer such a tragic death, especially with
our population expected to reach a hundred million in a few years.
Nevertheless, a nationwide health care program without an enabling law is considered
useless, however effectual it may be. The key to success lies in the dialogue between experts in
the field and those in power, two sectors whose primary job is to help improve the lives of the
regular Filipino. Dialogue should lead into action, and action should yield results.
Given the inaccessibility of proper medical treatment to majority of Filipinos at present,
there is an immediate need for a comprehensive health care policy to be created by the
government. There are current provisions and set-ups for Filipinos to avail of medical insurance
such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHeatlh, which, sadly, claims a
membership of only twenty million Filipinos as of 2009. However, in more ways than one, a real
comprehensive health care policy should not only offer free or discounted medical treatment, but
useful lifestyle, heightened medical research and wellness campaigns as well. The integration of
the aspects of prevention and cure will in turn lead to a more vigorous and active Philippine
society.
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However ideal and promising a comprehensive health care policy may be, there are still
some who believe that it will spell more problems than solutions if ever it is taken into effect.
It is no doubt that executing such a plan entails a lot of money, and given a country like
the Philippines with a frail economy, critics think that it is too risky to invest so much for health
care alone. If a comprehensive health care policy is enacted by Congress, the said budget will
surely balloon to three or four times more than its current level given that the access for health
care will be for all Filipinos. Considering that this will happen, what is important to look at is
how the allocation for the execution of the entire program will compare with the overall budget
of the government, as well as ensuring the efficiency in spending among the different
stakeholders of the health sector. Preventing corruption and allowing a wider field for different
organizations and companies to research on more affordable treatment will result into a lot more
of our countrymen having better access to basic medicines and vaccinations in Barangay Health
Centers which they very much need.
Other than the issue of money, some are not confident in creating a comprehensive health
care policy due to the fact that there is a lack of manpower that will execute the said plan. With a
shortage of medical and health practitioners who opt to do their practice abroad rather than in the
country, a valid question an analyst will ask is: Where will the government get people who will
be the prime movers and implementers of a comprehensive health care policy in the country?
For a country such as ours, however, it is important that Filipinos give emphasis to the value of
helping each other, as exhibited by the spirit ofbayanihian. If ever there is a time to put this into
action, then it might as well be in implementing universal health care. In a middle-income
country like ours, the local community, one of the most basic units of ours society, will play a
great role in determining the success of certain policies such as this. Therefore, it is of utmost
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relevance that a lasting and healthy relationship within the community be imbibed among its
members.
Although many people are saying that the said policy is detrimental to the economy, one
benefit it actually brings is its capacity to stimulate other areas of development that may generate
the flow of money and eventually improve on the quality of service that can be offered to the
people. By realigning and restructuring the current system into a more cohesive and wide-
ranging law, more job opportunities will arise for both white and blue collar workers, as well as
provide incentives for health related companies to engage in research for reasonably priced
medicines that could serve as treatment for different prevalent diseases in our country. At the
same time, health professionals such as physicians, nurses, medical technicians and the like will
have the opportunity to practice here in the country without the risk of being overshadowed by
the veterans at the big city hospitals, as well as create opportunities for them to have a decent
income, without the stress and hassle of going and working abroad.
The most effective way to do this is through the creation of avenues that will let them
make use of their skills while at the same time decentralizing the hospital as the staple venue for
diagnosis and treatment. According to Dr. Genejane Adarlo, a faculty member of the Health
Sciences Program at the Ateneo de Manila University, one of the main problems in the countrys
health system today is the weak authority that the Department of Health has over the Local
Government Units, or defragmentation. Through the creation of a body that will help
strengthen the ties of the central government to the local government and guide the creation of
small to medium clinics (SMCs) nationwide, the doctors and other health professional will be
brought closer to the people, and it is through this that Filipinos will eventually lose the
mentality of letting the disease pass without proper treatment since it is very expensive in the
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hospital which is almost four or five hours away from their homes. Setting up these SMCs will
require the hiring of staff and personnel with specific skills and so the pool of fresh graduates
and young professionals alike will be maximized in a way.
In creating these businesses, the mindset should be that of sustainable development. This
means that not only is a certain health-related business being put up if ever the plan becomes a
reality, but more so a relationship between the health practitioners in the clinics and their clients,
the immediate community, is being forged. By solving the problem of defragmentation, the
doctors will slowly move out of the big hospitals and make their way into areas nearer to rural
communities where they will set up their clinics. It is the turn then of companies and
pharmaceutical companies to invest businesses in the country, in partnership with the major
medical institutions, when it comes to the field of scientific research and medical advancement.
This will enable Filipino scientists to study more thoroughly tropical diseases, surgical
techniques, effective medicines and the like without the expense of going abroad. With the slow
but sure integration of economy, technology and quality being put in priority, it is expected that
the health care policy will help in the countrys economic development without sacrificing social
responsibilities to those in need.
In order for decentralization to really succeed, human resource should be given a holistic
approach, with emphasis on consultation and representation of all health professionals in the
discussion and conceptualizing part of the plan. Lawmakers and implementers should not only
consult the experts but also those who will really be immersed to the towns,sitios and barrios.
This will pave the way for a compromise on certain guidelines between the two sides to be
reached. If other middle-income countries like Brazil and Thailand have been able to come to
such a compromise, it is not impossible for the Philippines to follow suit.
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With all these points in mind, it is but natural for the ordinary Filipino to ask if a
comprehensive health care policy even has a fighting chance to become a reality. Given the
many problems the stakeholders should face even before the positive effects can be felt, even the
most optimistic analyst will say that the road to be faced is tough and that reaching the end point
will take a lot of patience and effort from everybody.
However, it all boils down to what is prescribed by the Philippine Constitution. It simply
states that the access to basic health care is the right of each and every Filipino, whether he be
rich or poor. Therefore, it is the obligation of the officials who govern this country to talk and
come up with a fitting solution to this long standing problem.
The time is right for a social transformation to take place. Besides the policy itself, the
paradigm of the people towards health care should also be changed, shifting it from an only
when its severely needed to an everyday necessity attitude.
Formulating and executing a universal health care policy is a huge step forward for the
Philippines, not only in terms of health care provision but in the maturity of its political system
as well. This will create a big impact on the sincerity of the countrys leaders to set aside their
differences in order to work towards achieving one goal for the betterment of the majority. More
than this, it will highlight the very essence of our countrys democracy, an environment where
people like Baby Raul need not die of a disease for which there is a cure.
The challenge lies on us, the current and future set of Filipino health leaders who will
manage our health centers, laboratories, hospitals, medical schools, health-related companies,
government offices, the Department of Health and yes, even our country itself. It may still be an
elusive dream, but it certainly is one thing that should be made a reality.
This, my fellow countrymen, is the ultimate oplan.