Scarcity of village docs still a problem: DOH exec

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said doctorless health centers, especially in remote provinces and municipalities in Mindanao remains to be a problem that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Enrique Tayag, DOH assistant secretary, said there are several reasons that can be attributed to the scarcity of doctors who are willing to be assigned in remote areas.

Tayag, who graced the first Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Stakeholders Forum at the Apo View Hotel Wednesday, said local government units (LGUs) must invest in medical programs in order to attract medical doctors and other health service providers to work with their province or municipality.

"These doctors cannot perform their duties without the proper equipment, facilities and the help of other health professionals," Tayag said.

Tayag said all sectors of the government from the national down to the local level must collaborate in addressing the problem of areas without doctors.

He said there's no standard ratio for doctor per population. The number of doctors or other healthcare providers will depend on the specific needs of the community. Tayag said LGUs must coordinate with the DOH to assess their needs.

"We hope that time will come when we will have sufficient doctors at the right place at the right time and with the right skills," Tayag added.