The Council for Health and Development (CHD) believes that the government should substantially address key concerns in the health system coinciding with the lifting of the pandemic-induced state of public health emergency (EO 7) and its responsibility in making science-backed and pro-people public health interventions be realized to its fullest.

“Apart from low hospital bed utilization for COVID-19 and increasing number of countries who have relaxed or lifted their pandemic-related health restrictions, the Marcos Jr administration should assess the root causes of this failing health system and immediately address these,” said Dr. Eleanor Jara, Executive Director of CHD and community medicine practitioner.

She elaborated that by rescinding mask-wearing in public transportation and other settings, the standards for COVID-19 protection should include effective ventilation to be in place in public spaces and workplaces. More affordable transportation options must likewise be made available for the masses. “Jam-packed buses, jeepneys and trains must be eased together with proper ventilation systems without burdening the commuters, small drivers, and operators. The government should prioritize the workers and the poor who have no choice but to take public transportation and be in congested/crowded places,” Dr. Jara furthered.

CHD still recommends wearing of masks in health care facilities and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. Dr. Jara underscored that PPEs must be free and available all the time for all health workers.

Persons with immunocompromised health must also be given close attention to and their access to health facilities be ensured. “Especially for patients whose financial capacities dictate their access or lack thereof to health services and medicines, it has been CHD’s long-standing call to make essential drugs, treatments, and health services free in primary care facilities to public hospitals.”

Moreover, Dr. Jara pointed out that since the virus is continuously evolving, the public health emergency lift should still require the Department of Health to diligently track, monitor, and report cases to avoid misleading the public and make appropriate public health measures and contain any potential outbreaks. The DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau up to the regional levels should be strengthened, added Dr. Jara.

As for the extension of the EUA for COVID-19 vaccines for another year, Dr. Jara said that what is needed is “for these to be included in the national immunization program and provided for free to every Filipino up to the farthest areas.” Aside from vaccines, COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics should also be provided for free in public health facilities to unburden the people of the costs that this entail. “Many low-income patients and their relatives are complaining of expensive COVID-19 tests for some hospitals and service-providers. Relative to our minimum wage, even with an insulting Php 40 wage increase, these tests are expensive and could be shouldered by the government in order to unburden an already catastrophic health spending of our poor patients,” added Dr. Jara.

Unpaid COVID-19 Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) for health workers reportedly amounting to Php 12.5 billion and pending since 2021 should be paid immediately and must not wait for another year to be completed. Dr. Jara said Filipino health workers worked without delay and hesitation when the pandemic hit and their efforts and sacrifices must be recognized in the same urgency by giving them what is due now. “Enough with the rhetoric. Dignifying our health workers’ sacrifice is to give them living wage, benefits, and adequate health worker to patient ratio now,” she added.

Lastly, as the deliberation for the national budget looms near, CHD emphasized yet again the need for an increase in the health budget equivalent to 10 percent of the gross domestic product and the passage of House Bill 208 or the Free National Public Health System.