The Department of Health is now enjoying higher approval rating, according to the June 2018 Ulat ng Bayan report of Pulse Asia Research, Inc., which surveyed the performance of selected government agencies.
The DOH received an approval rating of 78%, the second-highest approval rating among departments. The Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are statistically tied for first place.
The DOH also received a significant upswing of +15 percentage points in public approval ratings in the National Capital Region from 52% in March 2018 to 67% in June 2018.
"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," Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.
According to Secretary Duque, the renewed approval of DOH's performance is a result of the intensified health programs being implemented by the Department in line with its Fourmula One Plus Strategy and anti-corruption policies in line with the overall agenda of the Duterte Administration.
As part of the Duterte Administration’s thrust to achieve Universal Health Care, the DOH has launched various innovative programs such as the Malasakit Centers in government hospitals to streamline funding medical assistance and the revival of the Botika ng Bayan to respond to the need for free medicines by the poorest patients.
In response to the issue on the Dengvaxia vaccination, the DOH extended medical assistance to some 23,124 vaccinated children with the total medical assistance amounting to Php 42,964,203.98. The Regional Health Offices also initiated the monitoring and profiling of vaccinated children which shall now be intensified with the Senate approval of the use of the Php 1.16 billion supplemental budget which the DOH successfully demanded from Sanofi from the unused vials of the dengue vaccine.
The DOH has also been relentless in its efforts in working with Congress to pass landmark bills such as the Mental Health Act, National Feeding Program Act, Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Compliance Act, and the Anti-Hospital Deposit Act. DOH is currently pushing for the passage of the landmark Universal Health Care Bill covering all Filipinos with essential health services and seeking to increase tobacco taxes to fund the expansion of Philhealth benefit packages.
"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," Secretary Duque explained.
"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," Duque added.
According to Pulse Asia, the DOH's national approval rating is higher than its rating in the previous quarter. The June approval rating is comparable with previous ratings enjoyed by the DOH 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,” concluded Secretary Duque.