DOH Continues to Get Higher Public Approval Rating in 2018
The approval rating of the Department of Health (DOH) is on an upswing with no signs of stopping.
According to the June 2018 Ulat ng Bayan report of Pulse Asia Research, Inc., the DOH earned the second highest approval rating among other government agencies with 78 percent.
Tied for first place are the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We are happy that a large majority of Filipinos approve of the performance of the DOH. This shows that our reforms on good governance and improved frontline health service delivery are being felt by the public,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in a statement.
The intensified health programs as well as its anti-corruption policies in line with the current administration’s overall agenda are the cause of DOH’s higher approval rating according to Duque.
Proof is in the pudding
Various innovative programs were launched by the DOH as part of the Duterte Administration’s push to achieve Universal Health Care. One of them are the Malasakit Centers in government hospitals, which is designed to streamline funding medical assistance. There was also the revival of Botika ng Bayan for the benefit of poor patients.
On the Dengvaxia vaccination issue, the DOH extended assistance to 23,124 vaccinated children with the total medical assistance amounting to PHP42,964,203.98.
The monitoring and profiling of vaccinated children will be intensified thanks to the Senate approval of the use of the PHP1.16 billion the DOH got from Sanofi.
Healthier horizon
The Department of Health is also making waves in Congress and beyond. With milestones such as the Mental Health Law, Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Compliance Act, National Feeding Program Act, Anti-Hospital Deposit Act, and the Universal Health Care Bill that will provide Filipinos with essential health services. The increase in tobacco taxes to fund the expansion of PhilHealth benefit packages is being pushed as well.
“The DOH has streamlined its strategic thrust through the Fourmula One Plus strategy for health, which puts the Filipino people at the center of everything that we do in the DOH,” said Duque.
“Being the primary steward of the nation’s health, we believe that our success can only be measured by the well-being of our fellow Filipinos and how well the health system responds to their needs. We need to put our people and our patients first when designing health programs, especially as we move towards Universal Health coverage,” he added.
According to Pulse Asia, the DOH’s June approval rating is comparable to its ratings back in 2016.
“We are inspired to do more and to deliver better for our countrymen because of the increasing public confidence in DOH programs. While there are continuing challenges being faced by the department, these will not dissuade us at the DOH to reach our people with more responsive health services that they deserve. We cannot flag down,” said Secretary Duque.
