#CitizensInHealth: How can we help strengthen our public health system?

MANILA, Philippines (5th UPDATE) – The coronavirus pandemic opened the public’s eyes to how fragile the Philippine public health system is. 

Despite the relaxation of quarantine measures in most parts of the Philippines, there is not end in sight for the COVID-19 crisis. Experts have also warned that this will not be the last pandemic to hit the globe. (READ: Where are the promised 30,000 tests a day? The government’s moving targets) 

Actions driven by the Filipino bayanihan spirit provided key lifelines to many during the pandemic. How can citizens continue to take part in strengthening the public health system?  

Join the conversation through #CitizensInHealth: An Online Career Talk Series to Strengthen Our Public Health System. 

The online series is a collaboration of Rappler, Ateneo de Manila University, Bagumbayan Initiative, GoodGovPH, EpiMetrics, Liyab, and Covid-19 Action Network Philippines. 

Talk 1: Our health workforce needs us all (Saturday, June 6)

The discussion tackled the need for people from different disciplines to ensure a robust health system.

Invited speakers included Dr Beverly Lorraine Ho,Department of Health Director for Health Promotion and Communication Service; and Dr Norman Dennis Marquez, former director of the Health Sciences Program of Ateneo de Manila University; and Bagumbayani’s Ken Abante as moderator.

Talk 2: Health Leadership and Governance (Saturday, June 13)

This discussion, broken into two sessions, focused on health management career opportunities in local government, and on health career opportunities in hospital and clinic management.

Health career opportunities in hospital and clinic management

Invited speakers included Allan Quijano, St Luke’s Medical Center Senior Vice President for Corporate Planning and BusinessDevelopment; Atty. Viva Olalia-Guzman, Apayao Cagayan Medical Center Administrative and Legal Officer; and Karla Maria La Rosa, Taytay Doctors Multispecialty Hospital Administrator.

Health management career opportunities in local government

Invited speakers included Dinagat Islands Governor Kaka Bag-ao and provincial health officer Dr Jillian Lee.  (READ: Kaka Bag-ao: Careers in fighting COVID-19 not limited to health workers)

Talk 3: Health Financing x Universal Health Care (Saturday, June 20) 

How are the funds for health used? How can people participate in better and more inclusive health financing?

These are some of the important questions that were tackled on the 3rd week of the career talk. The discussion  highlighted the career opportunities in health financing, health policy, and systems research towards universal health care. 

Speakers included ThinkWell Philippines health financing expert Ian Nuevo and UP College of Medicine professor Dr Tony Dans. 

Talk 4: Access to Essential Medicines x Supply Chain Management (Saturday, June 27) 

 To “test-trace-treat” effectively, adequate medical supplies and equipment are needed. How do we remove the bottlenecks in the process during the pandemic?

In a discussion on “Access to Essential Medicines x Supply Chain Management,” Germaine Kaw of MedGrocer, Abetina Valenzuela of Equilife Medical tackled the career opportunities in health supply chain management. 

Talk 5: Health Information Systems x Research and Policy

How do information technology and data analytics help improve the delivery of health services? How can researchers craft local and health policy based on validated information?

These were some of the important questions tackled during the session. It also highlighted the career opportunities in health information technology and health policy and systems research. 

Institute of Philippine Culture’s research associate Dr Dennis Batangan and EpiMetrics Inc president and founder Dr John Wong joined the discussion. 

Talk 6: Promoting health through inclusive public transport

Without adequate public transport investments, there may be a second wave of coronavirus infection. 

The need to staff effective public transport planners rises to address the lack of urban planners in most local government units. 

How can professionals design “healing spaces” in the time of the pandemic? How can we pursue “urban design?”

 At a bigger scale, how do citizens organize for social change in health? How can citizens organize social movements to become watchers in health?

On the last week of the online career talk, disability rights advocate Dr Maureen Ava Mata and Pasig City chief transport planner Anton Siy will be joining the discussion on “Promoting health through inclusive public transport” organized by #CitizensInHealth on Saturday, July 11 at 2pm via Zoom. 

The webinar session will also be tackling the career opportunities in inclusive public transport and civil society organizing. 

Those interested to join the discussion may register here.  – Rappler.com