THE Department of Health is mourning the death of bario doctor Dreyfus Perlas, who Health Secretary Secretary Paulyn Ubial considered as a “son of the DOH.”
Perlas was shot dead by unidentified suspects last March 1 in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.
“Dr Perlas could be considered a son of the DOH having been one of the first medical scholars under the Bagong Doktor para sa Bayan program who later joined the Doctors to the Barrio program before opting to stay as MHO for the people of Sapad, Lanao del Norte. So as a parent this is truly devastating. We sympathize with his family and also seek swift justice for this tragedy,” Ubial lamented.
“DOH is one with all health workers nationwide in mourning the untimely death of Dr. Dreyfus Perlas, a true Bayani ng Kalusugan, who embodies the passion, idealism, humility and selfless service for the poor and marginalized communities. He is a rarity now in public health thus this is a great loss for the health sector and the thousands of patients he could have continued to serve.” Secretary Paulyn Ubial said as the DOH joined the Black Monday protest to call for justice and the improvement of the plight of frontline health workers.
At the same time, the Health Secretary denounced all acts of violence against doctors and health workers nationwide calling on local government units to help improve their working conditions and ensure their security and benefits while delivering vital health services in the field especially those working in remote and disadvantaged areas of the country.
We ask our local governments to please protect our doctors and health workers! Help them so they can serve you better,” urged Ubial.
Perlas served as Municipal Health Officer (MHO) in the fifth class municipality of Sapad, Lanao del Norte for two years before his death where he worked on the improvement and modernization of the rural health unit (RHU) towards Philhealth accreditation to deliver primary care benefits and maternal and child health services. He was also active in medical missions and response in various health emergencies that affected Mindanao such as Typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental, the Nunungan Ambush in Lanao del Norte, and the MILF standoff in Zamboanga City.
The Department of Health through its Regional Health Office has been coordinating with the local authorities in Lanao del Norte in the investigation of the death of Perlas. The Lanao del Norte provincial government under the leadership of Governor Imelda Quibranza–Dimaporo meanwhile has created a Task Force to lead the investigation and also announced a reward money to identify and catch the perpetrators.
Ubial has already directed the Department to revisit and amend the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers to reinforce benefits and security provisions that could ensure the safety and protection of health workers particularly those deployed in hardship posts in Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas and localities identified as high risk for violence.
“In the same vein that we recognize the risks faced by our military through difficulty pay or battle pay and other security measures, we must also protect our health workers. They also risk their lives in the line of duty while saving the lives of others. The service that they give is matchless and invaluable. Let not the life and death of Dr.Perlas be forgotten and put to waste. We rally together with all health workers to continue the fight for better working conditions,” concluded the Health Secretary.
The Black Monday protest has been called by fellow barrio doctors of Perlas under the Doctors to the Barrios Foundation to demand justice and also bring attention to the needs of all frontline health workers facing daily battles of difficult working conditions, denial of legal benefits and other entitlements, harassment and acts of violence in high risk areas. Masses were held across the country last Sunday offering prayers for Perlas and honoring his example as a service-oriented and altruistic physician for the people of Mindanao.
Best Practices in Universal Health Coverage Featured
Global experiences in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as well as the Philippines’ own journey to UHC were highlighted in a Symposium held recently at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel in Mandaluyong City. It was organized by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
The PhilHealth Symposium, which was supported by the European Union (EU), had for its theme: ‘Bawa’t Filipino, Protektado.’ It brought together international and local experts in health care financing, economic and social analysts, hospital administrators, members of the academe and Health Department officials to discuss best practices in social health insurance program administration.
Gracing the event were PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Ramon F. Aristoza, Jr., PhilHealth OIC-Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Johnny Y. Sychua and Louis Dey, Acting Head of the Development Cooperation of the EU. Health Secretary and PhilHealth Board Chairperson Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial’s message was read by her Head Executive Staff, Dr. Raul Quillamor.
Dr. Konrad Obermann, Senior Lecturer of the MIPH Mannheim Institute of Public Health (Heidelberg University) provided an international perspective on how UHC is achieved, while Ruben John A. Basa, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector, talked on the Philippines’ own journey to UHC.
Session 1 of the whole-day Symposium focused on the continuum of health care services and delivery networks within the perspective of what services should be covered. Health Policy Specialist Dr. Maria Ofelia O. Alcantara discussed the Life Stage Approach featured in the Philippine Health Agenda for 2016-2022 while Dr. Enrique Tayag, Director IV of the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development discussed the inter-relatedness of service delivery networks. Dr. John Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Epimetrics, Inc. tackled the benefit prioritization process, while Dr. Anthony Leachon, PhilHealth Board Member, discussed prioritizing coverage for services addressing the top 80 percent burden of disease.
Session 2 focused on how financial risk protection can best cushion the impact of health care costs. Invited to talk on the latest National Health Accounts isRaquel Dolores Sabenano, Senior Statistical Specialist of the Philippine Statistics Authority. Dr. Elenila Jakosalem, Chief of Bislig District Hospital andMichelle Inso-Libago, Administrative Officer IV and Head of Billing and Claims of Zamboanga City Medical Center provided insights on how the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy has impacted on hospital operations. They presented perspectives on the policy’s implementation at a Local Government Unit (LGU) and a DOH-retained facility, respectively.
Session 3 was aimed at highlighting efforts to ensure that policies and programs relating to UHC are inclusive. Leading the line-up of speakers were Toomas Palu, Global Practice Manager of The World Bank. He gave an overview of the status of implementation of Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012. Krupska Lenina Apit, Project Coordinator for National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the Department of Social Welfare and Development presented how the less privileged members of society are targeted. Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon, Principal Health Specialist for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank discussed sustainability mechanisms, focusing on potentials in the informal economy and other sources of funding for social health insurance.
Present during the Symposium were PhilHealth’s development partners, and representatives from the DoH, local government units, academe, and other stakeholders. The activity was among the activities lined up in observance of PhilHealth’s 22nd Anniversary. (END)