To improve access to healthcare, Yamsuan says DOH should be authorized to approve bed capacity increases of its managed hospitals

Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan wants the Department of Health (DOH), instead of Congress, to have the authority to set and approve the bed capacity increases of all DOH-supervised hospitals to better deliver quality healthcare to the people.

Yamsuan said the current practice of increasing the service capability of DOH-supervised hospitals through legislation is a tedious, drawn-out process that could take years, which further contributes to the delay in addressing the problem of the worsening hospital bed shortage in public health facilities.

“Allowing the DOH to adjust and approve the bed capacities and service capabilities of its retained hospitals is more efficient, as it already has the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) for 2020 to 2040 in place. This 20-year blueprint aims to guide the government in effectively investing in health infrastructure, which includes filling the shortage of hospital beds in public hospitals,” Yamsuan said.

“While Congress tries to move as quickly as it can to pass laws that would improve the delivery of affordable and quality healthcare, we cannot discount the fact that the legislative process takes a lot of time. Habang pinag-uusapan pa sa Kongreso ang tungkol sa pagdadagdag ng bed capacity ng mga ospital na nasa pamamahala ng DOH, patuloy namang lumalala ang problema ng kakulangan ng mga hospital beds natin, lalo na sa mga DOH hospitals na nasa labas ng Metro Manila,” added Yamsuan, who is vying for a congressional seat representing Parañaque’s 2nd District in the upcoming midterm elections.

(While Congress is still discussing measures to increase the bed capacity of hospitals managed by the DOH, the problem of hospital bed shortages, especially in DOH hospitals outside Metro Manila, continues to worsen.)

Instead of going through the process of passing a law to approve the bed capacity and service capability of every DOH-retained hospital, the Health Department should be given this authority and include this in its funding requirements under the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), Yamsuan said.

The DOH should then submit an annual report to the Congress, through the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health and Demography of the Senate, detailing the approved bed capacities of its retained hospitals, along with the necessary funding requirements.

“Since it is the DOH which has the expertise to determine the urgent needs of our healthcare system, it should have the power to evaluate the status of hospitals under its control, and approve the changes and improvements that need to be done,” Yamsuan said.

With the Philippines’ population of approximately 110 million, the ratio of one hospital bed for every 1,000 people is way below the ideal ratio set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 3 beds for every 1,000.

In the current Congress, Yamsuan has co-authored House Bill (HB) 1565 or the proposed DOH Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act.

Refiling and working on passing this measure in the next Congress would be among Yamsuan’s priorities once he succeeds in his congressional bid on May 12.

Yamsuan’s HOPE platform (Health, Opportunities, Peace and Order, and Education) for Parañaque focuses on improving, among others, the delivery of equitable, affordable and quality healthcare for the city’s 2nd District residents.

This reform agenda also aims to ensure that Parañaque’s 2nd District residents are equipped with adequate job and livelihood opportunities to elevate their living standards; assured of peace and safety in their communities; and guaranteed access to quality education.