19/05/2025
A Blueprint for Health Equity: How Governor-Elect Pam Can Deliver Free Healthcare for All
By Shawn Euclid Gandhi P. Espina, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPSST
Governor-elect Pam’s bold promise to deliver free healthcare for all across the province captures the heart of a people-centered agenda. In a time when many families still struggle with the high cost of medical care, this vision offers hope — but to succeed, it must be built on sustainability, inclusivity, and strategic planning.
Achieving “free healthcare for all” doesn’t mean a blank check. It means a smart, well-balanced system where the most vulnerable are protected, and those who can afford to contribute, do so — in a way that supports the system and uplifts everyone. Here’s how it can be done.
A Dual-System of Care: Equity in Access
At the heart of the plan is a dual-system designed for both fairness and financial sustainability.
• Indigent patients — identified through DSWD, PhilHealth, or local barangay vetting — will receive completely free medical care: from outpatient consults to diagnostics, hospital stays, medications, and emergency services.
• Paying patients, meanwhile, can access the same government services at subsidized rates — significantly cheaper than private providers. This approach ensures that no one is turned away, and that the healthcare system generates revenue to stay operational and continually improve.
For families who are not formally indigent but still struggle, a Cebu Province Health Card is proposed — a microinsurance program that can be government-subsidized or LGU-sponsored. It’s an extra layer of support that bridges the gap for the “invisible poor.”
Sustaining the System Through Strategic Manpower Development
No healthcare system can function without people — and the shortage of nurses, doctors, and specialists continues to challenge both private and public institutions.
Governor-elect Pam’s administration can reverse this trend by making the province a center for health science education and job creation.
1. Residency and Return-of-Service Programs
Provincial hospitals can offer residency training for doctors — with the condition that trainees serve in public facilities for 3–5 years after graduation. This strengthens local hospitals and ensures that investments in training pay dividends for the public.
2. Ladderized Scholarships and Training
From Barangay Health Workers to nurses and physicians, a scholarship ladder can help deserving students rise through the ranks — with the same return-of-service model. This way, every scholar becomes a future contributor to the provincial health system.
3. New Health Sector Jobs with TESDA Certification
The province can partner with TESDA to create certified roles for surgical assistants, medical aides, and health navigators — positions that fill in critical gaps, relieve overburdened staff, and open thousands of new job opportunities for locals.
This not only addresses the human resource crisis — it fights poverty through skills development and employment.
Financing Health with Prudence and Innovation
Making healthcare sustainable means diversifying how we pay for it:
• PhilHealth reimbursements for both inpatient and Konsulta (preventive) care
• DOH’s Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program
• LGU investments and partnerships with NGOs or private sponsors (e.g. adopt-a-ward or equipment donors)
• Revenue from subsidized paying patients reinvested into hospital operations
Additionally, transparency through digital systems like a Provincial Health Dashboard can show real-time data on who’s being served, where funds go, and how patient satisfaction measures up. This builds trust, reduces corruption, and enables evidence-based decisions.
An Investment in People, Health, and Growth
This plan is more than healthcare — it’s nation-building at the provincial level.
• It uplifts the poor by guaranteeing access to life-saving services.
• It rewards the working class with affordable, quality care.
• It educates and employs local youth through training and service.
• And it generates economic activity by creating new jobs in health and allied sectors.
With the right structure, Governor-elect Pam’s administration can show the nation how a province can lead in health equity, workforce development, and innovation — all while staying fiscally responsible.
Conclusion: Turning Vision into Reality
Free healthcare for all is not a dream — it’s a matter of design, commitment, and courage. By building a dual-access system, investing in local manpower, and using smart financing mechanisms, Governor-elect Pam can deliver on her promise and leave a legacy of compassion, justice, and health for every Cebuanon.
