The multi-faceted pandemic crisis caused by the Wuhan virus has upended life in the Philippines, bringing drastic changes in all areas, from business and education to social life and political activities. Perhaps most strikingly, the COVID-19 pandemic bears a revelatory character. It has exposed cracks and flaws in our healthcare system.
The Philippine public healthcare system is inadequate. This inadequacy does not only extend to the number of doctors and healthcare professionals, quality of technology and supporting infrastructure, and the simple number of hospital beds. It includes the state’s inability to efficiently ensure that the healthcare needs of the marginalized are met.
Already facing heavy pressures, the Philippine healthcare system was not only unprepared for the pandemic crisis, but faced it with a distinct disadvantage. Other health concerns do not magically vanish in the face of the pandemic. Persons with cancer, chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and those facing other medical emergencies also need healthcare services. This results in packed hospitals, overworked staff, and many patients whose conditions deteriorate due to a sharp dip in the availability and accessibility of facilities and services.
Good governance is demonstrated in being able to provide for the needs of the Filipino people. It is especially important that the government address the needs of vulnerable sectors given our current economic and public health crisis. Our government must deploy the necessary technological advances to our hospitals. Advances such as efficient patient data management systems and telemedicine would make healthcare adaptive and accessible in our new normal.
Just like the government bureaucracy, the health sector must accelerate its own digital transformation to be empowered with the latest health technologies. A pre-requisite to modernizing our health systems is connectivity which again emphasizes the urgency to quickly develop the country’s digital infrastructure.
With this in mind, Democracy Watch Philippines calls on legislators to ensure that the Universal Health Care and National Integrated Cancer Control Acts, two landmark health legislations that mandates the strengthening of our health systems, be given the appropriations needed for immediate implementation. This is crucial to overcoming our present crisis, building our capacity to national health concerns, and providing a better quality of life for all Filipinos.
As Congress resumes its 2nd regular session, we call on our lawmakers to respond decisively to this health crisis and reprioritize appropriations toward the health sector.