Palace circular to address access to health facilities

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has approved a 20-year plan that enumerates the investment and reforms needed to enhance access to health facilities and address the “large” underinvestment in the health sector.

The Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040 was adopted through Memorandum Circular 26 signed, by authority of the President, by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last July 25.

The circular directed all concerned state agencies and instrumentalities and encouraged all local government units to undertake efforts in support of the plan and its programs.

It also tasked the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, to facilitate the dissemination and ensure the effective implementation of the plan at the LGU level.

In collaboration with the trade department’s Board of Investments and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, the DOH shall study, craft and implement policies that will encourage private domestic and international enterprises to invest in health facilities to fill the gaps identified in the plan.

The Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040 will serve as the country’s overall strategy for infrastructure and medical investments to ensure a strong primary care and integrated health system in line with the Universal Health Care Act. It requires “large investments and bold reforms” and calls for “path-breaking approaches to build health facilities, especially in areas that need them the most.”

The plan anticipates a 60-percent increase in outpatient visits and inpatient bed-days by 2040 due to non-communicable diseases. To meet the projected need, the country needs “large and sustained investments” in health facilities, it added.

According to the plan, the national and local governments must spend at least P56 billion every year in the medium-term and encourage the private sector to increase and sustain its investments to substantially reduce the large health infrastructure gap.

According to DOH data, the country has around 3,900 primary care facilities, of which, 2,593 are rural health units and health centers. The country needs an additional 2,400 facilities by 2025.

The plan intends to establish centers for 16 specialties: cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care, burn care, orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology care and eye care.