The effects of Philippine Health Situations to Economy
The public health system of the Philippines has undergone several
transformations. The concepts and principles may still be the same, but the face and structure have to change in order to address the changing needs of the society. In year 2010, there were cases reported that greatly called the attention of the Philippine government regarding the health of the Filipino people. Numerous cases where reported due to natural calamities and exported viruses from other countries. Regarding this matter, the Philippine health system is now at the major reforms as it tries to confront old and emerging health challenges. The health of the Filipinos and the communities is still threatened by our lingering problems like major infectious killers and the wide disparities that exist between the rich and the poor in terms of access to health care. The Department of Health (DOH) today remains persistent in its expertise to provide the leadership in reducing the health inequalities and empowering the Filipino people through better targeting of services, better health education and promotion and more reasonable distribution of health benefits particularly for our poorest people. The Department of Health (DOH) took a valiant step towards expanding the performance of the health sector by improving the way health services are being provided and financed. The program is commonly known as the Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA). This program mainly expands to the effective coverage of national and local public health programs, increase access and reduces financial affliction. Local Health Systems Development reassures the progress of the local health systems where interacting between municipal and provincial health facilities. These requirements are functional and sustained by cooperation and cost sharing among Local Government Units. In the same manner that the Department of Health (DOH) and the public health system have evolved into what it is now in response to the challenges of the times, so public health agents practice had been influenced by the global and local health practices. In the light of the changing national and global health situation and the acknowledgement of the agents is a significant contributor of health, they are strategically positioned to make a difference in the health outcomes of individuals, families and to the communities. Health regulatory reforms strengthen the DOH to exercise its regulatory function to ensure that health products, devices and facilities are safe, affordable, and good quality. Besides, it also exercise technical leadership of in disease prevention and control, enhance the effectiveness of the local public health delivery systems. In connection to this, the Australian assisted the Philippines which focus on economic growth, basic education and national stability and human security. Attached to this assistance is the enhance disaster response capabilities. By working with the Philippine government and the public, it would provide better protection from natural disasters, climate change and emergencies. Australia will support reconstruction efforts, early warning systems and disaster preparedness in response to the devastation caused by natural calamities. Moreover, Australia’s aid will also provide support as the impacts of the global recession unfold in the Philippines. As a result, across Mindanao, 246 communities (over 24, 000 people) now have improved access to basic infrastructure and economic opportunities. Former rebels now act as peace advocates and lead planning and resource mobilization efforts for their respective communities. The Philippine health care delivery system is composed of two sectors – public sector and private sector. Public sector is largely financed through a tax – based budgeting system at both local and national levels where the health care is generally given free at point of service. Private sector on the other hand is largely market – oriented and where health care is paid through user fees at the point of service. As mentioned earlier, poverty has become one of the inequalities occurred in the Philippine health. It is a significant problem as in combination with high income inequality. It poses a serious threat to stability in the Philippines. So the poor people use the public sector as a system. Yet in most cases, poor people need to be confined in a private sector since it has a more advance technologies. More advance medicines and vaccines were also present. Public Health functions represent public goods, with this, governments would need to ensure the provision of these essential functions but would not necessarily have to implement and finance them. Public sector consists of national and local government agencies providing health services. At the National level, the Department of Health (DOH) is authorized as the lead agency of health. Private sector includes the for-profit and non-profit health providers. Their involvement in maintaining the people’s health is massive. This includes medicines, vaccines, medical supplies, equipment, nutrition products, research and development, human resource development and other health-related services. The economic growth of the Philippines has not been strong enough to speed up the step of poverty indication. This is in turn would impact on the country’s progress. The natural disasters that strike the country continue to exploit economic gains and obstruct growth potential. In contrast, the improvement of maternal health will not met on the current trends. The decline in the number of maternal deaths per 1000,000 live births has slowed down: from 209 deaths in 19993, maternal morality ratio went down to 172 in 1998, and in 2006 to only 162. At this slow rate for currently married women aged 15 – 44. However, at this rate, the 2015 target of 100 per cent access is difficult to achieve. Philippines have made considerable progress towards struggling malaria and are likely to meet its target of 24 malaria cases per 100,000 by 2015. There is a significant reduction of 32 per cent in malaria cases and 86 per cent in malaria deaths in 12 provinces in Mindanao through support to the Roll Back Malaria project since 2004. The project has benefited an estimated6 million people living in malarial areas. Overpopulation has also been the reason of reduction of good health. High population growth, which averaged 2 per cent annually over the past decade, and places additional strain on the cost of household living and demand for basic services. Immunization of over 213,000 children from vaccine-preventable diseases, and the immunization of more than 700,000 children under age 6 against polio, in 10 provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao. Another issue is the existence of AH1N1 influenza virus. This affects the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) with is usually working to help their families left here. They are vulnerable to natural disasters and civil unrest which adversely affects livelihoods. The moment this virus occurs, there’s no antidote to kill the virus and cure the patient. The recent change in political leadership provides the Philippines with the chance to revitalize the health care system. This is in line with the administration’s thrust to prioritize delivery of services to the masses and improve the quality of life of all Filipinos, especially the poor. The differences in health status among various groups and regions in the country have widened through years. These disparities indicate deficient economic and social policies, showing the need to reprioritize interventions to promote equity, fairness and immediate action.