DOH to focus on primary care

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Health (DOH) has highlighted Primary Care as its flagship reform program towards realizing Universal Health Care (UHC).

Armed with lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOH aims to shift the country’s health system from the current high-cost, specialist-centric system to a preventive, promotive, and integrated primary healthcare service delivery system that detects and manages diseases early and addresses its root causes.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said that primary care is equity in action which is the backbone of Universal Health Care.

“A reliable primary care system affords more of our kababayans the opportunity to access health services that they would otherwise not be able to enjoy under a health system that prioritizes high-cost specialist care,” said Vergeire in a statement.

To do so, she has identified priority initiatives that, when successfully implemented, will allow Filipinos to experience the benefits of Primary Care and UHC.

Specifically, these include increasing accessibility of health care services, eliminating financial risk for indigent patients in public health facilities, promoting access to medicines, addressing social determinants of health, and supporting healthcare workers.

To kickstart the Primary Care initiatives, Vergeire led the launch of the Primary Care Day recently to provide essential primary care services, highlight the importance of investing in primary care, and underscore the role of local government units as the main implementers of the primary care reform, pursuant to the UHC Law.

Primary Care is hinged on providing preventive health care services, which means that it relies on early screening, management, and referral to delay the onset of complications.

Anchored on a Comprehensive approach, it provides first contact-access and use of health services whenever necessary, includes promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation through coordination and integration of all the care a person receives and needs with the other health services, and ensures that there is continuity of services.

In realizing the promise of Universal Health Care, Vergeire added that primary care is the way to go as it is the most tangible way through which care can be brought closer to every Filipino, ultimately helping improve the health outcomes of all the citizens. — GAN (FREEMAN)