The Department of Health (DOH) said that its officials are ready to work with the agency's next secretary under the Marcos administration.
In a statement, the state health agency said that it is prepared for the change in administration by the end of this month.
"We shall welcome the next Secretary of Health - whoever they may be. DOH officials are eager to work closely with its next Secretary to continue the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act," the DOH said.
DOH Undersecretary and Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire believes that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III wants his successor to continue the different policies regarding Covid-19, such as improving the vaccination rate and maintaining the minimum public health standards.
“If I will be reading the mind of the Secretary, sa tingin ko ang ihahabilin niya dito sa bagong Secretary na darating ay ituloy lang kung ano ang naumpisahan natin dahil nakita naman natin na naging epektibo naman itong ating ginagawa (I think what he will advise to the new Secretary is to continue what we started because we have seen that these strategies are effective). Of course, mayroong mga (there are) areas for improvement,” she said in a public briefing.
“What would be best na mairerekomenda rin ni Secretary is for us to strengthen pa iyong ating health systems capacity katulad ng ating mga ospital, katulad ng ating mga rural health units (also that the Secretary can recommend is to further strengthen our health systems capacity like our hospitals, and rural health units),” she added.
“And of course, iyong navigation at saka referral natin kailangan ay malakas iyan para tayo ay makalaban pa sa mga susunod na buwan dito sa Covd-19 na ito (we need to strengthen the patient navigation and referrals so that we can continue our fight against Covid-19 in the coming months),” she furthered.
The DOH said there have been "many best practices from actual experience" in the country's response against the pandemic.
“We have seen how primary health care is important to disseminating preventive measures that could unload hospitals of mild cases. Telemedicine is another example that became popular and useful this time of the pandemic,” the DOH said.
“The pandemic also highlighted the need for sound leadership and good governance of provincial governors and city mayors, who have been responsible for the successful roll-out of vaccines within their respective local health systems,” it added.
Health accomplishments
In a related development, the DOH highlighted its “accomplishments” during the term of President Duterte.
The DOH said that through its Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), it "funded the development of 7,796 Barangay Health Stations; 3,259 Rural Health Units; 34 Polyclinics; 1,798 LGU Hospitals; 639 DOH hospitals; 14 quarantine facilities; and 34 treatment and rehabilitation centers."
The maximum retail price of certain drugs and medicines were also lowered in line with Republic Act No. 9502, or the Universally Accessible, Cheaper, and Quality Medicines Act, the DOH said.
A total of 151 Malasakit Centers have already been established in various hospital premises nationwide, adding that more than 3.6 million patients have been provided financial assistance through the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patient Program or MAIPP under the Malasakit Program Office (MPO).
DOH also said that Human Resources for Health were deployed to priority areas including the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). "An average of 27,400 Human Resources for Health per year were deployed to underserved areas in LGUs from 2017 to 2021," it noted.
"Further, the DOH launched its Telemedicine service program which played a big role in delivering accessible healthcare service during the pandemic. This program was launched in 2020 and has already attended more than 379,900 consultations," the DOH said.
The government also implemented its "Four-Dour Strategy which includes the prevention, detection, isolation, treatment, reintegration, and vaccination (PDITR+) approach to help curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” the DOH said.
“These accomplishments are a testament to the commitment of the DOH in its pursuit of the realization of UHC. Gradually, the reforms we have set are paving the way to improve the health system in the Philippines, placing every Juan and Juana at the center of it all,” said Duque.