These and related issues are tricky questions for public policy in healthcare provision. Posting below three articles related to universal healthcare (UHC) by the Executive Director of PHAP, Mr. Reiner Gloor, that can help shed more light and answers to these tricky questions and issues. The three papers posted in BusinessWorld in his weekly column are:
1. Making health by the people, for the people, 13 September 2012
2. Innovative medicine access collaborations, 20 September 2012
3. Protecting people's health, 27 September 2012
The first paper is about some insights after consultations at the grassroots level, where some poor rural folks expect the government health facilities to have more courteous and compassionate staff, more than having modern health facilities.
The second paper talks about huge price discount by innovator companies to patients of catastrophic diseases like breast cancer, prostate cancer, renal failure and leukemia under the PhilHealth "Case type Z benefit package". Another example of public-private partnership (PPP) with zero government coercion like the drug price control policy via Executive Order (EO).
And the third article is on the university student debates under the DOH Secretary's Cup, where protagonists will debate for or against more government regulations especially in (a) health professionals' fees, (b) advertisement of health products, and (c) distribution of health facilities, technology and services across cities and provinces in the country.
Good readings to start the week. Enjoy.
(1) Making health by the people, for the people
Posted on 05:18 PM, September 13, 2012
Medicine Cabinet -- Reiner W. Gloor
SAN ENRIQUE in Negros Occidental is a 5th class municipality with a population of more than 23,000 people. It is about 40 kilometers from Bacolod, or about an hour’s ride by public transportation.
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit this municipality -- consisting of 10 mostly coastal barangays -- as part of a partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council where we endeavor to prepare the people of the Western Visayas for calamities.
Apart from the information drive, the partnership sets in motion activities such as deworming, Oplan Timbang, immunization, medical and dental missions, backyard gardening and preparation of low-cost yet nutritious food and menu planning.
Hundreds of people, including the elderly, handicapped, mothers and children, came to the medical mission. Their overwhelming presence gave assurances that we must be on the right track. At the same time, the eagerness of the people to have themselves checked by health professionals in a covered basketball court is evidence that there remain healthcare gaps to be filled.
Also recently, two townhall meetings were held in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija and Malolos, Bulacan with the objective of gaining insights and perspectives from the grassroots concerning key health issues. These were part of the Secretary’s Cup of which I have written.
Two films on health were shown to jumpstart the discussions. The first was about how a poor family copes with the illness of a family member while the second was an excerpt of Sicko, a documentary that probes healthcare in developed countries such as US, Canada and United Kingdom among others.
The discussions and reactions were insightful. However, three points struck me the most.
First, the participants were asked what they think is the most important attribute of a good health facility. I was expecting that a majority would say modern infrastructure or even free medicine. I was surprised to learn that most of them responded that a good health facility is where there are “kind, respectful and compassionate health staff.”
Apart from the information drive, the partnership sets in motion activities such as deworming, Oplan Timbang, immunization, medical and dental missions, backyard gardening and preparation of low-cost yet nutritious food and menu planning.
Hundreds of people, including the elderly, handicapped, mothers and children, came to the medical mission. Their overwhelming presence gave assurances that we must be on the right track. At the same time, the eagerness of the people to have themselves checked by health professionals in a covered basketball court is evidence that there remain healthcare gaps to be filled.
Also recently, two townhall meetings were held in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija and Malolos, Bulacan with the objective of gaining insights and perspectives from the grassroots concerning key health issues. These were part of the Secretary’s Cup of which I have written.
Two films on health were shown to jumpstart the discussions. The first was about how a poor family copes with the illness of a family member while the second was an excerpt of Sicko, a documentary that probes healthcare in developed countries such as US, Canada and United Kingdom among others.
The discussions and reactions were insightful. However, three points struck me the most.
First, the participants were asked what they think is the most important attribute of a good health facility. I was expecting that a majority would say modern infrastructure or even free medicine. I was surprised to learn that most of them responded that a good health facility is where there are “kind, respectful and compassionate health staff.”
