Teodoro Plans To Fix The Problems In The Philippine Health Sector
The standard bearer of the Administration party in the
upcoming presidential elections, Gilbert Teodoro informed the public one of his
plans if ever he is elected as holder of the country’s top post; that is to
reform the existing healthcare policies in the Philippines.
Teodoro aims to stop the exodus of Filipino healthcare
professionals specifically the nurses and doctors. To accomplish this goal, he
believes that radical change from the current system is necessary.
To remove the threat of
possible brain drain in the future, Teodoro’s Presidential agenda includes the
creation of a new law that would establish a feasible universal participative
health-care system.
Since insufficient budget
is a perennial issue in almost all government units, the participative
health-care system would encourage everyone to contribute a minimum amount to
augment government funds. The presidential aspirant wanted to minimize the
dependency of the local government on the higher office
Teodoro explained, “There’s
more for everybody, not merely in terms of buying medicine and providing care
but for providing reimbursements for doctors and nurses, so there’s an
incentive to stay [in the country] and participate in the system.”
Aside from the issue of
finances, Teodoro’s supposedly brilliant health care reform plan also stressed
the need to raise the standard of education making it at par with the world’s
standards. Here are some of his proposals:
Improving primary and secondary education and
incorporating a third language in the curricula besides Tagalong and
English.
A revolving student-loan program of around P5 billion
to ensure that those who want to go to college can take a loan payable
when the student is already employed.
Every student who wants to
study would get an SSS/GSIS [Social Security System/Government Service Insurance System] number along with the loan.
When the student graduates
and is eventually employed, then loan payments is deducted as pay.
This will give scholarships
to those who really deserve it because of high aptitude.
Promote those subjects that are not too popular but
needed by the country like international relations, public policy and
planning.
