DOH URGES PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN HEALTH

Press Release/ 13 December 2011

 

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona today underscored the role of the private sector in achieving the Department of Health’s priority health reform agenda dubbed Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) or Universal Health Care (UHC) during the 3rd Philippine Health Outlook Forum 2011 organized by the Department of Health, Zuellig Family Foundation, Philippine Business for Social Program (PBSP), and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP).

 

“We have made significant strides this year in the pursuit of our goal. The support of our partners, which has been instrumental in the past year months, will again be critical as we scale up our efforts in pursuing Kalusugan Pangkalahatan,” shared the health chief.

 

Secretary Ona cited the major achievements for the year which include the enrollment in PhilHealth of over 5.2 million poorest Filipino families through National Government subsidy, the implementation of the Case Rates Payment Scheme in PhilHealth, the deployment of close to 21,500 registered nurses under the RNheals program, the 84% coverage rate of the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunization Activity, and deployment of Community Health Teams, among others. He said that these would have not been achieved without the support of the public and the private sector.

 

“There is much to be done and given the limited resources, we are looking to the private sector as we intensify our efforts to achieve Universal Health Care,” added the health secretary.

 

Plans for the rehabilitation and enhancement of several DOH Retained Hospitals are being eyed for joint ventures with partners from the private sector. Two of such projects are in the advanced stage of planning – modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center and the Research Institutes for Tropical Medicine’s Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Program, which aims to reduce the cost of vaccines and ensure an adequate supply of locally manufactured quality vaccines.

 

“At every turn on the road to KP, there are opportunities for partnerships between the public and private sectors,” stressed the health chief, adding that PPPs may range from simple advocacy campaigns for health to complex collaborations for establishing state-of-the-art medical centers.

 

The DOH and PhilHealth has had partnerships with SM chains of Malls and the CIS Bayad Centers who provided registration sites for those who wished to be PhilHealth members. Telecommunications companies such as Globe and Smart have provided marketing and communications support to inform the public about PhilHealth offerings and benefits. Also, E-soluzione, an IT-solutions company, allowed users to transact with PhilHealth thorough their mobile phones.

 

Likewise, discounts for medicine and other health services have been provided by companies such as Watsons Pharmacy, Rose Pahrmacy, SouthStar Drug, United Lab Glaxo-Smith Klein. PQ Health Shield, Fresenius Medical Care for its hemodialysis services, Vivian Sarabia Opticals and many others.

 

“I constantly encourage those in the government to engage in PPPs when they find the opportunity,”encouraged Ona, adding that the health sector has much to gain from private partners in the way of capital, experience, expertise, efficiency and economy.