Hontiveros wants a doctor in each brgy

CEBU, Philippines - To strengthen the country’s health care system, senatorial aspirant Risa Hontiveros proposed to designate a physician in each of the barangays of the country.

“Isang bagong elemento puwede nating i-conceptualize at i-operationalize iyong super barangay health centers. Meron na po tayong mga barangay health stations at rural health units. Mas i-capacitate pa natin sila kasi meron sila doon where the people are,” she said.

The Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party candidate was at the Cebu City Hall yesterday meeting with leaders of the urban poor and different organizations.

She came to Cebu to attend an early Christmas celebration with 6th district Representative Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing.

“Primarily andito ako para makiselebrar sa Christmas party ni Representative Luigi mamayang gabi (last night) and so since naa diri na ko sa Cebu, I took the opportunity mag-keep in touch sa iba’t ibang universal health care reform advocates,” she said.

Hontiveros said she has come up with a proposal on establishing a better health care system to fully equip district hospitals or rural clinics.

“Ang apat kaagad na konkretong elemento ang puwedeng trabahoin natin ngayon ay doktor sa bawat barangay, abot kayang gamot o serbisyong pangkalusugan, empowerment ng ating mga barangay health workers at tsaka health education para sa mga mamamayan,” she said.

If her proposal is implemented, she said, it would further reinforce the “six key pillars of the health care system” under the human resources component. The other pillars are leadership and governance, service delivery, medical products and technologies, healthcare financing, and health information systems.

“Itayo iyong anim na pillars or building blocks ng isang universal health care system para magkaroon tayo ng universal (health) coverage talaga para sa bawat Pilipino,” she said.

“Saan man ako or saan man wala, lifetime magiging advocate talaga ako para sa universal health care. Based sa experience ko nuon sa pagsasabatas ng iba’t ibang mga balaod na para sa kalusogan hangtod sa isang taon ko sa member ng board of directors sa PhilHealth. For life gusto ko talagang mag-ambag,” she added.  (FREEMAN)