Trillanes seeks re-nationalization of devolved healthcare services

Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV has filed Senate Bill No. 626 or the bill reverting to the national government the discharge of basic health services devolved to local government units (LGUs).

According to Trillanes, one of the significant changes introduced by the Local Government Code of 1991 was the devolution of the healthcare system based on the assumption that citizens would have better access to health services since LGUs would know where the need for such services is necessary and would be able to prioritize such needs.

Trillanes, however, lamented: "After several years of implementation, it was found out that the quality of health services has slowly decayed in some areas of the country. Among the reasons which caused this are: low priority given by LGUs to health concerns, corruption in the procurement of medicines, and denial of benefits of health workers due to the inability of LGUs to bear the financial costs of increased salaries."

Under SBN 626, all health services and facilities devolved to LGUs will be re-nationalized or returned to the operation and management of the national government, which in effect, would repeal certain provisions of the Local Government Code. Upon implementation of this act, re-nationalized hospitals and rural health units/centers will be authorized to use the income they derived from their operation to improve and upgrade the services they provide, as long as the supporting financial and work plans are approved by the Department of Health (DOH).

"It is this measure's objective to revert to the national government the discharge of basic healthcare services in the hope that LGUs would be freed from financial burden, while we upgrade and standardize healthcare throughout the country", Trillanes further added.