Galing Pook Champions on Health Demand Universal Health Care!

Written by Dr. Eddie Dorotan

Galing Pook Champions on Health Demand Universal Health Care!

We had a blast last Thursday (May 28) and Friday May 29) at the AIM Conference Center. And it was a Kalusugan Muna health blast!

85 people (from LGUs, NGOs, academe, national agencies, donors, etc) participated in crafting a health agenda for the country for the coming years:

More than 40 LGU champions (Governors, Mayors, Vice Mayors, SPs, SBs, health managers) issued a Manifesto on Universal Health Care (UHC) demanding quality health care for everybody, rich and poor. Strategies on how to achieve UHC both at the local national levels were put forward.

Five best practices were presented for possible replication nationwide: (a document, entitled Galing Pook Solutions on Health, on the 19 Galing Pook Awardees on Health was also distributed)

Social Health Insurance in Bindoy by Vice Mayor Yap
Health Population and Environment in Concepcion by former Mayor Raul Banias
Making hospitals economic enterprises by Dr Astom of La Union Medical Center
Interlocal Cooperation by Governor Macias of Negros Oriental
Provincial Investments in Health by Gov Nava of Guimaras

Dr. Jimmy Tan contextualized and fine-tuned the policy recommendations for a reformed health system.

For the response, Dr Lilibeth David of DOH appreciated the need to highlight best practices and replicating these nationwide, while former secretary Quasi Romualdez emphasized the importance of crafting a quality health not only for the poor but for all and for expanding the total investment in health.
We would like to thank

Nieves Confessor for a warm welcome reminding everybody that Galing Pook started at AIM
Neric Acosta for, once again (and for the future forums!) for moderating eloquently
Nene Guevara for inviting everybody to the Movement for Governance
Chito Soprepena for attending and bringing in his staff

Kalusugan Muna!

Dok Eddie
June 1, 2009

Comments (0) Add Comment

Write comment