DOH prepares for UHC implementation

Preparations for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law have gone full blast as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III met with key stakeholders for the fulfillment of the landmark health reform.

“As we are drafting the implementing rules and regulations of UHC, we are here at the National Health Sector Meeting to convene key stakeholders and recalibrate our efforts in preparation for the various changes we must make to implement UHC,” Duque said.

“We are zooming in on key health financing aspects of the UHC Act – comprehensive membership, rational investments and quality primary care services,” he added.

Among those who attended the three-day National Health Sector Meeting held in Legazpi City was the newly appointed Philippine Health Corp. (PhilHealth) president, Ricardo Morales.

Duque expressed optimism that Morales would be able to revitalize PhilHealth’s antifraud campaign, boost its image and effectively communicate the agency’s benefits to the Filipino people.

“PhilHealth is in high gear towards achieving universal health care. We are one with our health sector partners in this unified effort to attain our UHC goals,” Morales said.

Meanwhile, doctors are now providing traditional medicine like ventosa and acupuncture in government health facilities in the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces).

Eduardo Janairo, Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon regional director, said they have trained doctors and nurses in response to the growing demand for traditional medicine.

“The demand continues to rise and it is important to be selective of what traditional method or approach to use – safety must be the primary consideration,” he noted.

The five-day training for a number of selected doctors and nurses, he added, will be the first step toward the integration of traditional and complementary health care into the primary health care delivery system.

“Although they are getting popular in the medical and wellness sector, we still have to make sure that these procedures are properly applied and practiced by health professionals with the utmost safety to avoid any incident,” Janairo explained.

In 1997, the DOH pushed for the passage of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) which paved the way for the manufacture of alternative medicines from certain herbs that are proven safe and effective.

Janairo said DOH-Calabarzon created the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) program to provide and incorporate the benefits of traditional medicine and the advances in alternative technology.

“Anyone, whether sick or not, can benefit from complementary and alternative medicine… We will also introduce other complementary and alternative system of medicine such as the Ayurveda, naturopathy and homeopathy,” he added.

As example, he cited acupuncture, which can help in relieving chronic pain, headache and arthritis.