Improving the Delivery of Healthcare Services in the Philippines
BDO Foundation
“In fulfillment of its disaster response advocacy, BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philippines’ largest bank, rehabilitates rural health units all over the country to help improve the local healthcare delivery system in underserved communities marginalized by natural or man-made disasters.”
INTRODUCTION
BDO Foundation conducts relief operations in disaster-stricken provinces by mobilizing volunteers from more than 1,000 BDO branches all over the country. As part of its long-term rehabilitation program, the foundation revisits these provinces and rehabilitates rural health units that need assistance.The foundation improves the health center’s offices, clinics, pharmacy, consultation rooms, minor surgery rooms, treatment rooms and other facilities. It also constructs a reception area, lounge for the elderly and kids play area. It upgrades the maternity and birthing clinic, labor and recovery rooms, and breastfeeding station to provide mothers and infants the best patient care possible.
Through its rehabilitation program, BDO Foundation contributes to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal for ensuring healthy lives, the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal for the improvement of maternal healthcare and the Philippine Health Agenda’s target of improving the local health services delivery network.
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
In response to calamities in communities that BDO Unibank serves, BDO Foundation developed a system of sustainable initiatives that involve disaster relief and rehabilitation and reconstruction interventions. It implements its disaster response initiatives through the active involvement of BDO branch managers and employee volunteers on the ground who are familiar with the terrain, understand local culture and know leaders in the community.BDO branch managers help identify health centers in their localities that may need assistance. Site evaluation is conducted by BDO Foundation program managers together with engineers.
The sites are assessed and selected based on standard criteria set by the foundation. After careful review and evaluation, a rural health unit is selected and recommended for rehabilitation. The project is awarded to the most qualified contractor following BDO’s stringent bidding procedures. Once completed, the newly rehabilitated health center is turned over to local government and health officials.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
BDO Foundation has rehabilitated a total of 34 rural health units since the program’s inception back in 2012. In 2015, eight rural health units serving a total catchment population of 547,974 individuals were rehabilitated. In 2016, the foundation rehabilitated 18 health centers, benefitting a total of 1,281,231 people. Work is underway for the rehabilitation of more than 35 rural health units in 2017.As a result of the program, rehabilitated health centers received higher assessment scores, resulting in the renewal or approval of their certification from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) and the Department of Health. With the improvement in the organization of a health center’s layout, medical staff are able to provide healthcare services more efficiently to underprivileged communities.
FUTURE DIRECTION
BDO Foundation will continue to pursue—even expand—its rehabilitation program and address the needs of communities where BDO Unibank has branches. It will continue to work for the health and well-being of mothers, children, the elderly and families, particularly the underprivileged.BDO Foundation will monitor the condition of rehabilitated health centers through feedback provided by health officers, foundation personnel or BDO branch officers. The foundation will leverage the support of local government units to ensure that rehabilitated facilities will be taken care of and properly maintained. Agreements signed by BDO Foundation and local officials spell out the responsibilities of local government for the maintenance of facilities.
BDO Unibank leadership is committed to the continuance of the program. As the bank grows and more branches are built, the breadth and scope of the rehabilitation program is expected to grow as well.
BDO Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, the Philippines’ largest bank. It aims to help alleviate the plight of marginalized Filipinos through its disaster response advocacy, which it fulfills through relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction interventions.
