Monday, January 14, 2008 Lawmaker: RP's healthcare system in bad situation By Carlo P. Mallo
THE country's healthcare system needs to be reviewed lest its condition worsen from its already "bad state."
In an interview Friday with Senator Pia Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, she said the country's healthcare system is already in a very bad situation.
Ideally, according to the senator, the healthcare system must be in a mode of preventive measures, not wherein it is merely responsive to the current situation.
At present, Cayetano said the healthcare system is now in emergency survival mode, wherein it is merely responsive.
"Measures must be taken to create an environment where people can live healthy lifestyles," Cayetano added.
The senator added that there is a need to strengthen the primary and secondary hospitals, especially in the far-flung provinces to avoid congestion in the country's public tertiary hospitals, like the Davao Medical Center.
"Our tertiary hospitals are catering even those who come from the provinces, and these people must be catered first by the primary and secondary hospitals in their areas," Cayetano said.
The senator urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to take a second look at the country's healthcare system and it should be made one of its top priorities.
Cayetano said the problems plaguing the public hospitals have been the same -- lack of personnel and not enough subsidy funds.
