SUBIC, Zambales --- As the Department of Health (DOH) endeavors to make Filipinos among the “healthiest in Asia” by 2040, it underscored on Thursday, June 13, the urgent need to address the concerns and plight of healthcare workers to ensure they can continue serving their country.
“We see this [lack of healthcare workers] as a major roadblock, so it needs to be a priority to address because we can have all these plans and even a budget, but without the people to implement them, we will really have a hard time,” said DOH-Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau Medical Officer Dr. Adriel Pizarra in a mix of English and Filipino during the first day of the “Engaging Media for Health Literacy” media conference.
Big challenge
Of the agency’s 8-Point Action Plan, Pizarra said that the "Kapakanan at Karapatan ng Manggagawa sa Kalusugan (welfare and rights of health workers)" is one of the most challenging aspects to address.
“Many concerns regarding healthcare workers fall outside the DOH's mandate, so it requires collaboration from multiple agencies,” Pizarra added.
8-Point Action Agenda
Pizarra explained that the “Adoption of the 8-Point Action Agenda as the Medium-Term Strategy of the Health Sector for 2023-2028” or Administrative Order (AO) No. 2023-0015 is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
Its main aim is to ensure that every Filipino experiences health and well-being.
The DOH’s comprehensive plan focuses on placing Filipinos “at the heart” of healthcare reforms by promoting community health and strengthening healthcare institutions and the welfare of healthcare workers.
Under the leadership of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, the agenda is founded on “humanistic leadership” and “good governance.”
Aside from prioritizing healthcare workers, the 8-Point Action Agenda aims to ensure that every Filipino feels healthy (Bawat Pilipino ramdam ang kalusugan); providing safe, quality, and compassionate service (Ligtas, kalidad, at mapagkalingang serbisyo); utilizing technology to deliver prompt services (Teknolohiya para sa mabilis na serbisyo); readiness for crisis (Handa sa krisis); interventions for disease prevention (Pag-iwas sa sakit); focusing on providing mental and emotional comfort (Ginhawa sa isip at damdamin); and protection against any pandemic (Proteksyon sa anumang pandemya).
While many challenges need to be addressed in realizing the DOH’s 8-Point Agenda, Health Promotion Bureau Director Rodley Desmond Daniel Carza expressed optimism about the agency's ability to achieve its health goals.
“We are confident that with the help of everyone, we will be able to realize our goals,” he said.
The three-day activity is part of a series of media conferences this year to orient media practitioners nationwide on the current thrusts of the DOH including its 8-Point Action Plan, priority disease prevention and control programs, as well as current health issues and concerns.
Aside from the DOH’s 8-Point Action Agenda, DOH, through Epidemiology Bureau Supervising Health Program Officer Faith Caitlyn Valdez, also discussed epidemiology and its importance in achieving the health goals of the department.