SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to provide regular updates to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding the country’s demand for healthcare workers, as part of a renewed legislative effort to bring essential medical services closer to communities.

The appeal comes as Cayetano refiled Senate Bill No. 421, or the Health Centers in All Barangays Act, which seeks to establish fully equipped and staffed health centers in each of the Philippines’ over 42,000 barangays.

The measure aims to improve access to primary healthcare, especially in remote and underserved areas, while easing the burden on overcrowded hospitals.

“A responsive healthcare system starts at the community level. To make this possible, we need to plan for the future workforce now,” Cayetano said.

“The DOH must regularly report to CHED and LGUs the country’s evolving needs for doctors, nurses, dentists, and other medical professionals so that we can align our education system and encourage more students to enter health-related fields,” he added.

Under the proposed law, each barangay health center would be staffed with at least one doctor, one nurse, one dentist, and supporting medical assistants.

The bill also outlines a Primary Healthcare Program to be implemented by the DOH in coordination with local government units, national agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

Regular DOH reporting is expected to help educational institutions adjust enrollment targets, scholarship programs, and course offerings to ensure a steady pipeline of healthcare professionals and address long-term workforce shortages.

Cayetano emphasized that the bill is not only about building infrastructure but also about securing a sustainable health workforce.

“Without enough healthcare workers, facilities are meaningless. By ensuring that our education system is producing professionals based on real-time data, we are investing in both the present and future of community health,” he said.

The bill mandates LGUs to allocate funding for the construction, maintenance, and staffing of barangay health centers, and encourages partnerships with both public and private medical professionals to enhance service delivery.