Palace directs agencies, LGUs to adopt health facility plan

KUALA LUMPUR — Malacañang has ordered all government agencies and local government units to adopt the health facility plan, which aims to establish medical facilities in localities.

Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 26 directed the adoption of the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020-2040, which encourages all government agencies and local government units to support the initiative by setting up health facilities for their constituents.

“In accordance with their respective mandates, all concerned agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged, to undertake efforts in support of the implementation of the PHFDP, and the plans and programs specified therein,” the MC read.

The circular further tasked the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to facilitate the dissemination and ensure the effective implementation of the PHFDP at the local level.

The DOH was also directed to assist and support LGUs in translating the plan into long-term local health facility development plan.

The agency shall also coordinate with the LGUs in formulating policies for the establishment of primary care provider networks and health care providers networks.

The department will also monitor the implementation of the development plan of local health facilities and encourage LGUs to enter into public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address the gaps in the PHFDP with the assistance of the PPP Center.

At the same time, the DOH will issue guidelines to implement the circular and may request the assistance of other relevant government agencies and offices when it comes to the formulation of guidelines.

“Moreover, the DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, shall study, formulate, and implement policies that will encourage both domestic and international enterprises from the private sector to invest in health facilities aimed at addressing gaps in the PHFDP,” the circular stated.

The implementation of the said circular implementation would be funded by the existing appropriations of respective agencies and LGUs.

The DOH crafted the PHFDP to serve as the country’s overall strategy for infrastructure and medical investment, with the aim to ensure a strong primary care and integrated health system for every Filipino that is consistent with the Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act of 2019. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News