“Health is a fundamental right.” This was the statement made by the Provincial Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan of Quezon in her speech during the Ceremonial Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for the Province-Wide Health System Integration on January 13th.
All the Local Chief Executives in the province signed and everyone is hopeful for the smooth implementation of the plan, including the Department of Health Undersecretary Kenneth G. Ronquillo who was present during the momentous occasion, saying that Quezon’s model could be a prototype for Philippine provinces once it becomes successful.
Signing is a step towards the realization of the dream. Implementation from the top to the bottom of implementing agencies is another.
Knowing that the right to health is recognized as a human right, we expect that all citizens, regardless of political inclinations and economic status, should be given equal treatment available for everyone.
Quezon Province is lucky having a medical doctor for its governor. Physicians are committed to saving lives and overseeing the welfare of every person in need of medical attention.
This ethical responsibility should go down the line of local government officials to barangay health workers who are the ones present in the remotest areas.
Public health and well-being should be their concern and whatever biases they have should be put aside, for this program to succeed.
Funding for health and medical care has not been appropriated in huge amount as that of infrastructure projects, but Quezon Governor Tan made sure that this year, budget for hospitals were augmented. Thus, citizens can be assured of better health services under her administration. After all, then Congresswoman Helen Tan of the 4th District of Quezon was the sponsor who defended the Universal Health Care Act during her time in the House of Representatives.