The Philippine health situation was assessed to have minimal improvements in |
recent years. Those who live in rural and isolated communities receive less and |
lower quality health services. Even where facilities are present, people are unable to |
receive appropriate care because services are unaffordable. These are signs of |
inadequacies of health care in the Philippines. In response to the health situation of |
the country, the Department of Health (DOH) developed and enthusiastically |
promoted the Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA) in 1997. The DOH officials seem |
confident that the HSRA can immensely contribute to the solution for our ailing |
health and health care. In the CAR, the HSRA was vigorously implemented in 2001. |
This evaluation study explored the status of the HSRA implementation in the |
Province of Ifugao and Baguio City in the five HSRA areas: HSR on Hospital Systems, |
Public Health Programs, Local Health, Health Regulation, and Financing Health |
Services. The study determined processes and strategies in line with the |
implementation of the five components of the HSRA as it aims to bring about visible |
improvements in the worsening health situation of the country in general and in CAR |
in particular. The study also explored the LGU initiatives/strategies to assist the DOH |
implement and achieve the goals of the HSRA; the constraints seen/experienced by |
the LGU in the implementation of this component of the HSRA; and the perceived |
effects of the implementation of the HSRA components. |
The study utilized triangulation of data collection methods namely: examination |
and analysis of relevant program documents; focus group discussions among health |
managers, program implementers, clients, non-clients, and stakeholders; interviews |
of key informants (City/Provincial Health Officers; Local Officials such as Governor, |
Mayors, Councilor/Kagawad for Health, Chief of Hospitals, MHOs, PhilHealth |
Director) and participant observation. |