HEALTH

SERVICE
PREPAREDNESS
DELIVERED BY
GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS IN
Prepared by:
REGION I
DURING
MARIA BERENICE GLIZZLE M. CATABAY DISASTERS
NINA BLANCA F. FERRER
MARY ANN B. IGNACIO
INTRODUCTION
 The increasing occurrence of disasters around the world raises the issue of the
effectiveness of a country’s crisis management systems. Besides the potential damage
and disruption to infrastructure, disasters can have a major effect on the health of a
population.
 The direct consequences of a disaster are well known, i.e. deaths, injuries, disabilities
and illnesses. Less well known are the indirect impacts on the overall health of a
nation, in particular, its infrastructure, health systems, and service delivery. Such
disasters can lead to long-term detrimental effects, namely, the erosion of social
development and the loss of hard-won health and well-being gains.
– The Philippines, by virtue of its geographic circumstances is highly prone to natural disasters, such as
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical cyclones and floods, making it one of the most disaster prone
countries in the world. Not to mention the man-made disasters like oil spills, arson, siege, explosions and
others which has undermine the tourism in the area. (Ebbinghausen, 2014)
 The following reasons bring the importance of knowing the health services being delivered by hospitals
during disasters in their own catchment areas.
 Region I in particular, is a disaster prone area due to flash floods & landslides from strong typhoons as
well as earthquakes due to the fault lines in the area. (Romero, 2015) For the past 10 years, several super
typhoons hit the region, like Typhoon Ondoy on September 24-27, 2009, followed by typhoon Peping
from September 30-Oct. 10, 2009. Several typhoons still passed through the region, like typhoon Lando
from October 14-22, 2015, typhoon Lawin, October 16-21, 2016 and typhoon Nina also hit the region
last December 22-28, 2016 which caused a lot of casualty and damaged agricultural properties.
 During times of disasters, hospitals play an integral role within the health care system by providing
essential medical care to their communities such as natural disaster often requires a multi-functional
response and recover efforts which must include the provision of health care. (WHO, 2018)
 Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, mandates the provincial
government to provide hospital care through provincial and district hospitals and to coordinate
health service delivery provided by cities and municipalities of the provinces.
 In times of disasters, without appropriate emergency planning, local health system can easily
become overwhelmed in attempting to provide care during a disaster. Hospitals are complex and
potentially vulnerable institutions, dependent on external support and supply lines.
 During disaster, an interruption of standard communication, external support services, or supply
delivery can disrupt essential hospital operations and even the modest anticipated rise in admission
volume can overwhelm a hospital beyond its functional reserve.
 It is therefore needed to note the different data that should be gathered from the hospitals to
identify the number of people who availed the services rendered and if the hospital protocol during
disasters are seriously followed and at the same time, to know the appropriateness of equipment
available or if the requirements/guidelines by the DOH for health emergency management are being
followed.
 It is with this thought that this study will be undertaken to evaluate the health service delivery of
government hospitals in Region I during disasters.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

– This study aims to evaluate the health

services delivered by government hospitals
and Puericultre centers in Region I during
disaster.
 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE:
– Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:
1. What are the hospital care facilities availed by the patients during disaster?
2. What are the services rendered by the hospitals during disasters, in terms of:
a. disaster preparedness of hospital staff;
b. emergency care services;
c. pharmaceutical service; and
d. referral system?
4. What are the problems encountered in the hospital health care delivery during
disaster situations?
5. What is the pattern of health care protocol of the hospitals during disasters?
 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:
The findings of this study will benefit the following identities:
– Hospital Administration: The findings of the study will help the
administration to identify problems in the health care delivery during
disaster situation which can pave way for the improvement of health
care delivery services.
– Health Care Professionals: The study will help to enhance the capacity
of health care professionals to have an adequate skills during
emergency response
– DOH: The study will provide the policy makers with information useful in
the advancement of innovative policy initiative too address this public
health concerns.
– Politicians: For the politicians to provide additional allotted budget for
health services to augment the lack of facilities and infrastructures of
government hospitals.
– Researchers: From the result of this study, other researchers will gain
more knowledge and further motivates others on a wider scope.
– The community: For them to be aware of the health services offered by
the hospitals during disaster.