DILG supports construction of public school-based Barangay Health Stations

To ensure quality health care for all Filipinos, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will work with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in establishing thousands of public school-based Barangay Health Stations (BHS) nationwide.

The barangay health stations to be known as Philhealth TSEKAP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya)-accredited BHS will cater mostly to the poor and vulnerable sector in each barangay.

“The DILG, as an active partner of the DOH and the DepEd, recognizes the State's vital role in providing equitable and accessible quality healthcare for all Filipinos, especially those poor and vulnerable sectors, by ensuring that there is a functional BHS in every barangay,” said DILG Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento.

In a directive, Sarmiento urged all provincial governors and city and municipal mayors to issue building permits; ensure the availability of utilities; enjoin the local government unit (LGU) health workers to provide health services at the school-based BHS; and extend any necessary aid to the establishment of the BHS in their areas.

“Let us provide all the necessary support and assistance to DepEd and DOH in the establishment of barangay health stations in public schools to ensure that affordable health services are within the reach of every Filipino,” he said.

Recent DOH Health Facility Inventory showed that only 17,904 or 43% of the 42,036 barangays nationwide have existing BHS. DepEd data likewise shows that 40% of their reviewed elementary schools do not have BHS in the barangay.

“The PhilHealth TSEKAP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya) - accredited BHS within a public school will be built since land appropriated to public schools is ready and can be shared and used for BHS. Likewise, the BHS may serve as a school clinic,” said Sarmiento.

The construction of school-based BHS in barangays with no existing BHS started with 3,200 BHS in 2015. This year and onwards, the expansion of the program involves the construction of 3,000 BHS annually.

The DILG Secretary also directed all concerned DILG field officers to participate in all relevant meetings and trainings with regard to the implementation of the program. (DILG)