De-Prived: the current state of health centers in Manila and Quezon City in the midst of devolution and privatization.

Abstract

The Local Government Code of 1991 pushed for the devolution of basic services from the national government to the hands of the local government units. Healthcare is one of those services, with the promise of the establishment of Primary Health Care from the original idea of the 1978 Alma Ata Conference. Its devolution would ensure a strengthened healthcare system that is available and affordable for all. Community participation in healthcare management is also encouraged, since the empowerment of the community is integral for the success of devolution of health.

Twenty years passed, the devolution of health revealed many problems that include issues in health financing, and inequity. With the devolution, the national government has forgotten its role in the improvement of the health sector, with the current administration calling for the aid of foreign and private investors through Private-Public Partnership. The strengthening of the National Health Insurance Policy through PhilHealth is also criticized as it brought additional burden to the people in shouldering the costs of healthcare. As corporatization and privatization loom, so does the opportunity for the further inequity of health.

De-Prived—this is the situation of the health sector in the country, with both Devolution and Privatization contributing significantly for the health inequity in the country.