At least half of the Philippine population cannot obtain essential health services within 30 minutes, according a new report from the Department of Health.
“If we look at our primary care facility in the country, half of the population still do not have access to primary care facility within 30 minutes,” Health Undersecretary Dr. Lilibeth David said during her presentation at the Senate hearing on Thursday as she presented the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan for 2020 to 2040 during the hearing.
This gap, David stressed, is “mostly” encountered by the people in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Bicol, and Mimaropa.
Upon hearing this, Senator Pia Cayetano, was apparently surprised that this gap is concentrated in said three regions, thinking that it covers the whole country.
“(It’s a) good sign that majority of the population is on track. I’d rather (like) to see it that way,” she said stressing also that the data on 50 percent of the population who still do not have access in PCF is also “bad”.
David said their proposal in 2022 budget also focused on funding primary health care needs, “over and above the barangay health stations.”
In her presentation, David said that there are approximately 2,593 existing PCF and 1,500 in private facilities.
David, meanwhile, assured that they would want to close the gap.
“‘Our goal is all of our population will have access to a primary care facility within 30 minutes,” she stressed.
David added that this, and other health infrastructure inputs are achievable through the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, DOH, and partnership with Asian Development Bank.
She also said that they also aim to unload all higher level hospitals as the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. will roll out primary care benefits.