LGU Execs Support Revival of Inter-Local Health Zones (ILHZ)

The cities and municipal mayors in Cebu province have forged commitment to improve the delivery of health services by reviving the inter-local health zones following the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP) training held under the auspices of Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) on Friday (June 2, 2017).

Cebu Governor Hilario P. Davide III throws support to the scheme where LGUs will share the responsibility in running the member-hospitals. The Cebu Provincial Government currently operates the 12 district hospitals including the provincial health facilities in the cities of Carcar, Danao, Bogo and Balamban town.

“I committed to join this program because health is my priority agenda and I have a commitment to the Cebuanos,” he said.

PLGP is under the Department of Health’s (DOH) health leadership and governance program that combines training and coaching that aims to help health leaders analyze their current healthcare capacities and use these to attain their targets.

PLGP uses ‘Bridging Leadership Framework’ and hospital roadmap to help local leaders make systemic health reforms.

During the workshop, local chief executives aired out plans for an equitable and quality public health services for the Cebuanos. They also recognized the challenges they are facing which involves primarily the people running the health care system.

Cebu Provincial Health Office chief Rene Catan said that among the challenges include the leaders, patient and the healthcare workers. Catan said that the autonomy in managing district hospitals post serious challenges for local leaders.

“For leaders (the challenge) are their autonomy in managing district hospitals, their policies for pushing health agenda and allocation of resources.” Catan said, adding that ‘health is about services and the people running the system.’

Catan explained that the devolution of the health system from the national government to LGUs in 1993 has caused a fragmentation in the current set-up.

To overcome these challenges, Catan said leaders should have strong commitment to partly own the system, which prompts the body to propose the revival of the erstwhile inter-local health zones.

The mayors agreed that in the next three months, the inter-local health zones will be fully reactivated based on proximity of district hospitals.

As to the mechanism of the ILHZ, Davide said he will issue an executive order allowing the provincial health office to correct the current fragmented health system.

League of Municipalities of the Philippines – (LMP Cebu Chapter) president and Tuburan mayor Democrito Diamante, expressed delight towards the implementation of such an activity as PLGP.

“Nindot kaayo ang activity. Ang direction nato, usa ra,” he said.

Davide said the training is an opportunity for local executives to be champions for health in their respective RHUs (rural health units) as PLGP workshop plans to achieve the targets under the World Health Organization (WHO)’s six building blocks of health systems.

Meanwhile, the LGU executives also committed to work out the Philippine Health Insurance (Philhealth) accreditation of their respective RHUs to fully avail of all Philhealth services and benefits.

In partnership with ZFF, the PLGP program beefs up assistance for provincial and municipal leaders in improving the health services in their respective localities.

Present in the PLGP meeting were mayors and representatives from Tuburan, Sogod, Consolacion, Argao, Santander, San Fernando, Boljoon, Dalaguete, Oslob, Borbon, Medellin, Minglanilla, Madridejos, Ronda, Dumanjug, Alcantara, Moalboal, Aloguinsan, Alegria, Tudela, San Francisco, and the cities of Danao, Bogo and Carcar.

Also present were DOH 7 director Jaime Bernadas, Cebu provincial hospital chiefs, and representatives from PhilHealth.

cebu.gov.ph