Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) is preparing to deploy 24,381 health professionals to provinces and local government units next year as part of efforts to bring healthcare workers closer to communities and strengthen universal healthcare implementation. Acting Health Secretary Edwin Mercado disclosed the target during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the DOH and its attached agencies.

According to Philippines News agency, Mercado stated that the deployment is part of the National Health Workforce Support System, which aims to provide additional health professionals to areas needing more personnel to augment their local health workforce. This initiative is a key component of the DOH's Unified National Agenda for Health, which seeks to transition universal healthcare from policy to actual practice.

Mercado emphasized the need to support the healthcare workforce by offering more career opportunities as the government expands the universal healthcare system. The workforce initiative will be complemented by improvements in the government's medicine and vaccine supply chain, including plans to update digital systems, warehouses, and cold-chain facilities to prevent wastage and preserve the quality of medical supplies.

The DOH is also seeking approximately PHP740 million to cover validated appeals involving healthcare worker benefits. Under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program, the DOH and its attached agencies have a budget of about PHP353.8 billion, representing 4.9 percent of the proposed national budget and around 1.1 percent of the projected gross domestic product. The spending plan also covers prevention and health promotion, primary care, hospital services, digital transformation, and programs aimed at strengthening health institutions and the workforce.