(Photo courtesy of PIA)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has called for practical, community-driven innovations and stronger partnerships to improve healthcare delivery and expand access to medical services, particularly in underserved areas of Northern Mindanao.
Speaking at the Northern Mindanao Health Innovation Summit held in Cagayan de Oro City on October 13, DOH Assistant Secretary and Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Lester Tan encouraged healthcare workers, local government units (LGUs), and stakeholders to develop innovative solutions addressing persistent challenges in local health systems.
“Innovation does not always mean introducing sophisticated and expensive technologies or developing something entirely new. Sometimes innovation is a simple but practical solution to a problem that has persisted for years,” Tan said.
He emphasized that frontline healthcare workers play a crucial role in identifying practical solutions because of their firsthand experience with the challenges faced by communities seeking medical assistance.
Tan also stressed that healthcare innovations should address existing inequalities rather than create additional barriers, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“Innovation must help us close these health inequities, not widen them,” he said.
Meanwhile, DOH Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao Assistant Regional Director Dr. Raymond Dela Cruz highlighted the importance of local leadership and grassroots initiatives in strengthening public health services.
Dela Cruz said meaningful improvements in healthcare depend not only on government policies and programs but also on the initiative of health workers and local leaders who develop effective responses to community needs.
The summit, themed “Celebrating Excellence and Showcasing Local Innovations that Transform Health Systems for Better Health Outcomes,” featured successful healthcare practices and community-based programs from rural health units in Taguig City and the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental.
Participants shared strategies and initiatives that could be replicated in other communities to improve healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and service delivery.
The DOH also encouraged stronger collaboration among government agencies, healthcare institutions, and community stakeholders to support the implementation of Universal Health Care and the Unified National Agenda for Health.
According to Tan, exchanging successful practices and strengthening partnerships can help expand effective healthcare programs to more communities, schools, and workplaces.
“We innovate because our communities deserve better health services. We share because our experiences may help others. We collaborate because meaningful improvements require collective effort,” Tan said.
The health department reiterated that locally developed solutions and coordinated efforts are essential to building more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare systems in Northern Mindanao.
