House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan has renewed calls for the Marcos administration to designate a permanent Department of Health (DOH) secretary.
Libanan, in a statement Sunday, Dec. 4 said that having a permanent DOH chief at the helm would help in the objective of quickly modernizing the country’s healthcare system and position the Philippines as a global medical hub, just like Singapore.
“The Philippines has all the assets needed, including highly trained physicians, nurses, medical technologists and pharmacists, to advance as an international medical center for foreign patients looking for world-class healthcare,” Libanan said.
“In fact, Filipino healthcare professionals are also admired around the world as the most caring. We have to capitalize on this,” noted the lawyer-solon, who also holds a degree in medical technology.
“We should aspire to be like Singapore, which receives more than 160,000 foreign patients who undergo over 70 kinds of medical treatments or procedures every year. In fact, a growing number of wealthy Filipinos are already flying to Singapore just to seek medical treatment,” he pointed out.
But Libanan said he is merely pitching that the would-be DOH prioritize medical tourism.
“This is not just about medical tourism. This is also about providing every Filipino, rich or poor, access to world-class medical treatment services through our public health system."
Since assuming office last June 30, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has not nominated a health secretary. The DOH is currently led by Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire as officer-in-charge.
A permanent DOH chief is needed to lead the country in the race for world-class healthcare, stessed Libanan. He called for effective public-private partnerships to put the Philippines at the forefront of medical developments.
“We must also develop complimentary medical research and education capacities through international collaborations. If necessary, Congress should provide tax incentives to lure new international medical schools and research facilities to operate here,” the 4Ps Party-list solon said.