The manner in which all healthcare services are delivered constitutes a Health System. This encompasses aspects such as financing, workforce, facilities, and resources, and an effective Health System guarantees that everyone can obtain top-notch medical care without facing any financial hardships. However, in numerous countries, Healthcare itself is a huge privilege due to the inadequate facilities and underfunded systems. Everyone has the right to healthcare but not everyone has the privilege to afford it. Despite the huge number of medical professionals and soon-to-be medical professionals, the Philippines’ Health System is what we may call a “flop”, in Gen Z terminology. Majority of the Filipino youth aspire to become health workers, and yet, most of their reasons are to make ends meet for their families as OFWs since the salary of an ordinary healthcare worker in the Philippines is under-compensated. Other than that, the Philippine Health System has inadequate facilities, is underfunded, and is underpaid. Many provinces in the country, especially those in mountainous regions, have no hospitals or even urgent care clinics. Citizens would have to travel hours on end to receive medical treatment.

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the first point of interaction between a person, their family, and the healthcare system, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It includes a variety of services meant to support wellness, stave off disease, and treat common ailments and medical issues. PHC is seen as the foundation of effective and equitable health systems by the organization, and it continues to be essential to their efforts to attain universal health coverage and enhance health outcomes for all. The components that make up Primary Heath Care include universal access to health services, multidisciplinary and comprehensive care, community participation, health promotion and disease prevention, and intersectoral collaboration. A personal experience of mine in Primary Health Care is aiding my mother, who is a City Health Nurse in Bais City, in her programs for the community. Her job involves all the components of Primary Health Care. A memorable experience for me was when I was getting my 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccination. The process was well planned and executed and they also made sure to educate the citizens about COVID-19 and vaccines.

“An introduction to the healthcare system in the Philippines.” FutureLearn, 22 April 2022, https://www.futurelearn.com/info/futurelearn-international/an-introduction-to-the-healthcare-system-in-the-philippines. Accessed 11 February 2023.

“Health systems.” Health Poverty Action, https://www.healthpovertyaction.org/how-poverty-is-created/health-systems/. Accessed 11 February 2023.

Primary Health Care Throughout Our Life. Written by World Health Organization, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX7Q0a8GxaA. Accessed 11 February 2023.