It is common knowledge that the poverty rate is normally higher in remote areas than in those living in the city center. Additionally, places that are isolated and difficult to reach have higher chances of not having basic health support and other necessary government services. With these obvious facts, poor health conditions of households are likewise experienced in these areas.
These observations have led the government to formulate policies that will help in improving the quality of life of people living in far-flung areas, particularly the issuance of Administrative Order No. 185 s. 2004, supporting the implementation of local health system reforms through a strong primary health-care approach in remote, isolated and disadvantaged communities with marginalized populations. Through the said administrative order, deployment programs to the rural areas were initiated, one of which is the implementation of DOH HRH (Human Resource for Health) wherein deployed nurses are assigned for 6 months in the community (Rural Health Units) and then another 6 months for hospital service. Additionally, other deployment programs by the DOH include Doctors to the Barrios in which physicians are assigned, for two years primarily in 4th to 6th-class municipalities that do not have a doctor for at least 2 years; Rural Health Midwives Program for improved maternal and child care; and Rural Health Team Placement Program where dentists, medical technologists, and nutritionist-dietitians are assigned in field health facilities to complement existing RHU personnel.
While these deployment programs provide significant assistance to the people in the barrios, certain challenges were encountered by healthcare providers deployed in those areas. A medical doctor relayed that she has experienced how it is to live in a society where help from the national government does not reach the grassroots- an apparent disclosure of shortages of health facilities and services, that according to this medical doctor, a lot succumbed to death without ever seeing a doctor or health care worker.
On top of the lack of health facilities and services in remote areas, the availability of health education materials for awareness campaigns was also a challenge. A health worker informed that in some areas where she was assigned during the implementation of the Health, Hygiene, and Education Program, there was a lack of materials that are supposed to be available and be used in the conduct of health promotion and illness and disease prevention along with other topics. With the lack of materials, especially localized or contextualized materials, in educating the public regarding their health, hygiene, and welfare, health awareness and risk avoidance in the spread of such diseases may not be highly disseminated.
These are but the few challenges being encountered by healthcare providers deployed in far-flung areas. To overcome some of these challenges, according to the Philippine Health Systems Review (2018), the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth are pushing for the development of functional Service Delivery Networks (SDNs) using both government and private sector institutions. Additionally, the formulation of policy measures at the local level is necessary to address local health issues and concerns, particularly the funding of LGU health facilities and their associated health programs since LGUs are independent in managing their health facilities.
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