OFF THE BEATEN PATH
In both the urban centers and rural communities of the Philippines, the barangay health center stands as a beacon of hope and wellness. Or at least that is how it should be. For many of our countrymen, be it in the cities or in the probinsya, the barangay health center stands as their first, and often only, point of contact with medical care. Sadly, however, many of these centers are unable to meet even the most basic needs of their communities. Some can’t even keep over the counter headache medicine in stock, let alone the hypertension or diabetes management drugs that many elderly Filipinos rely on. Reflecting the sorry state of healthcare in the barangays, our health centers leave Filipinos chronically underserved and vulnerable.
Understaffed and under-resourced
The Department of Health itself admitted that the number of practicing health professionals in the country, fell short of the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the international health body, the ratio should be closer to 14.3 doctors and 27.4 nurses, per 10,000 population. With the Philippines hovering around the 112 million population mark, this means that the ideal number of doctors should be approximately 116,032, and 125, 890 nurses. Even barangay health workers, of whom there should be one for every 20 households in the barangay, are in critically short supply.
A staggering shortage like that cannot help but have a massive impact on the quality of life in our barangays. With the frontline of healthcare being understaffed, on top of being poorly provisioned and equipped, how can we realistically expect to uplift our communities when the very foundation of their health is crumbling?
The inadequacy of barangay health services is more than just a matter of inconvenience; it is a matter of life and death. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are among the most vulnerable. While we have seen a significant decrease in maternal mortality rate, the MMR remains critically higher than the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, with many cases of maternal death being linked to the lack of timely medical intervention. Childhood immunizations, on the other hand, are often put off or skipped entirely for no other reason than the absence of a qualified healthcare professional.
As for the elderly, well, far too many are forced to make the choice between receiving healthcare and providing for their next meal.
The healthcare agenda
To address these challenges, the Partido sa Bagong Pilipino (PBP) partylist has placed healthcare squarely at the center of its legislative agenda. Among its key proposals is the revitalization of the “Doctors to the Barangays” program, updating the “Doctors to the Barrios,” founded in 1993.
Although still active the DTTB program has seen many physicians choosing not to stay in the communities they served for two years under the program, leading to a net loss of doctors where they are needed the most. It is one of PBP’s central pillars to not only reinvigorate this program but also to expand it significantly.
These proposed legislative measures aim to provide competitive compensation for healthcare professionals, as well as adequate training and resources. Offering competitive salaries and benefits, and barangay health centers equipped with the necessary resources, will not just entice doctors to serve in remote and underserved barangays, but also motivate them to stay and be absorbed by the local government units.
PBP aims also to incentivize long-term service, by implementing scholarship programs for medical students with a service-for-scholarship scheme. Together with improved infrastructure, upgrading barangay health centers to meet modern standards, this will lay the foundations for improved healthcare in the barangays.
And PBP also intends to bridge the service gap through technology – establishing telemedicine infrastructure and providing relevant training, will allow barangay health centers to consult with specialists in urban hospitals for complex cases.
Not a privilege
Healthcare is not just a privilege for the few but a fundamental right for all. And the barangay health center is the beating heart of that privilege. The revitalization of barangay health centers must be seen as an investment in the nation’s most valuable asset—its people. By addressing these systemic gaps, we can create a healthier, more equitable Philippines.
Prioritizing the health and well-being of every Filipino, starting at the barangay level. With collective effort and political will, we can transform our healthcare system from a patchwork of inadequacy into a robust network that leaves no one behind.
Let this be the year that we take concrete steps to ensure that every barangay health center becomes a true pillar of public health. The Partido sa Bagong Pilipino has laid out a roadmap. Now, it is up to all of us to ensure it is followed.
(The author is former Comelec commissioner. He is a pioneer of automated elections being a member of the Commission that successfully modernized Philippine elections in 2010. He remains involved in public service as an election lawyer. Email: [email protected])