Good news indeed about a new hospital for Bohol.
Although there has been much publicity - mostly favourable in the Philippines and adverse elsewhere in the world - given to the " War Against Drugs ", far less notice has been taken of other aspects of plans for improving the country and its health.
Last month the Department of Health unveiled the " Philippine Health Agenda ", underscoring the theme " Strengthening Partnerships to Achieve All for Health Towards Health for All " ( " Lahat Para sa Kalusugan ! Tungo sa Kalusugan Para sa Lahat " ).
The main aims include not only the " War Against Drugs " ; but also to strengthen implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law ( RPRH ) ; achieve and improve universal health coverage ; and provide additional funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation ( PAGCOR ), already a large contributor of revenue to the Government :-
The strategy, in the acronym " A.C.H.I.E.V.E. " :-
* Advance health promotion, primary care and quality
* Cover all Filipinos against financial health risk
* Harness the power of strategic HRH ( human resources for health )
* Invest in eHealth and data for decision-making
* Enforce standards, accountability and transparency
* Value clients and patients
* Elicit multi-stakeholder support for health
Cynics may argue that this is jargon with no substance or chance of success in a country which spends only ~4.5% of its GDP on health ( see link ). We should look at our own health service before being too critical! The UK has a much larger GDP and spends around 7% of it on health - but is still underfunded, underdoctored, and overstretched to an alarming degree.
Good luck and success to the Philippines aspirations for improving health under its elected President Duterte
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Originally Posted by Doc Alan
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