In a significant push to enhance healthcare accessibility across the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has rolled out several key initiatives in 2024. The focus has been on strengthening primary and emergency care services, particularly in underserved regions, as part of the broader implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law, which had been delayed due to the Covid-19 crisis.
To address the urgent healthcare needs of the most vulnerable populations, the DOH launched the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Centers. These centers, numbering 42 in total, are strategically distributed across the country with 20 in Luzon, eight in Visayas, and 14 in Mindanao. The first BUCAS Center opened its doors in Santo Tomas, Pampanga on March 6, and has since provided care to over 35,000 individuals.
Complementing the BUCAS initiative, the DOH has deployed 83 Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinics, fully equipped with advanced medical technology including digital X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound machines, and telemedicine equipment. These mobile units have been crucial in disaster response scenarios, providing essential health services during typhoons and floods. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized the widespread distribution of these clinics, noting that each province has been equipped with one.
The DOH has also initiated the ‘PuroKalusugan’ projects, which deliver primary health services to various districts nationwide, focusing on maternal and child health, immunization, sanitation, and nutrition. These efforts are supported by a workforce of 19,425 local health workers, including nurses, midwives, nutritionists, and doctors, whose salaries are funded by the DOH. Additionally, 627 doctors have been deployed to rural communities, and support has been extended to 253,537 Barangay Healthcare Workers and 1,623 local government units, particularly in remote and economically challenged areas.
In the fight against malnutrition and stunting, the DOH allocated PHP560 million to 235 local government units as part of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project. This year also saw a robust response to a measles outbreak in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, with a vaccination campaign reaching 87.9% of the targeted children. The DOH’s 2024 Action Plan for mpox from October to December included measures like contact tracing, the establishment of additional laboratories, and community engagement to curb the spread of the infection.
The Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program (MAIFP) has been a lifeline for 3.8 million patients this year, down from 4.5 million the previous year. The Philippines has also secured grants and contributions for various health projects, including the Health System Resilience Project Phase I and the Health4Life Fund, enhancing the nation’s capacity to manage public health threats.
On the policy front, the DOH has issued several administrative orders to streamline pharmaceutical regulations and health benefit packages. Notable changes include revisions to the Konsultasiyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) consultation packages by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and adjustments to case rates for various conditions and services. A significant policy change was the removal of the requirement for senior citizens to carry a purchase booklet for their 20% discount on prescribed medicines, a move welcomed by Health Secretary Herbosa, who himself is a senior citizen.