MANILA — In a concerted effort to bolster healthcare services in the Ilocos Region, the Department of Health (DOH) spearheaded the deployment of 532 new Human Resources for Health (HRH) workers under the National Health Workforce Support System (NHWSS).

Led by Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, Undersecretary of Health for Universal Health Care (UHC) Health Services Cluster Area 1, alongside Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz, an oath-taking ceremony was held in San Fernando City, La Union on March 13, 2024.

The deployment encompasses a diverse array of healthcare professionals, including 312 nurses, 85 midwives, 45 returning midwives to service, 29 medical technologists, 17 pharmacists, 12 dentists, 3 nutritionists-dieticians, 3 physical therapists, 16 doctors assigned to rural areas, and 10 post-residency doctors, who will be strategically stationed across various provinces within the region.

Undersecretary Vergeire emphasized that the recruitment of HRH under the NHWSS aligns with the overarching goals of the Universal Health Care (UHC), as outlined in the DOH 8-Point Action Agenda. “Many of our Local Government Units (LGUs) still lack the requisite healthcare workforce to effectively support UHC implementation. Therefore, it’s imperative to provide them with the necessary assistance until they attain self-sufficiency in discharging devolved functions, including the provision of healthcare services and program implementation,” she elucidated.

The NHWSS, formerly known as the Human Resources for Health Deployment Program, represents the government’s commitment to strategically deploy, redistribute, and retain healthcare professionals nationwide, aiming to bolster access to high-quality healthcare services and improve health outcomes. This initiative is mandated by Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019, which aims to ensure that all Filipinos have equitable access to a comprehensive range of quality and cost-effective healthcare services without financial hardship.

Assistant Regional Director Albornoz underscored the crucial role of the newly recruited HRH in augmenting deployment, particularly in priority Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and other communities with marginalized and vulnerable populations. “These healthcare professionals will play a pivotal role in guaranteeing equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare goods and services for all Filipinos within their communities,” Albornoz affirmed.

(el Amigo/MNM)