Manila: The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) on Friday highlighted a critical healthcare gap, revealing that six provinces in the country are currently without a single practicing cardiologist. This revelation underscores the pressing need to deploy more specialists to underserved regions to alleviate the growing cardiovascular health burden in the nation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Walid Amil, the PHA national president, identified the provinces of Abra, Aurora, Siquijor, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi-home to approximately 2.5 million people-as lacking cardiologists. This shortage forces heart patients in these areas to undertake lengthy journeys by land or sea to access essential care.
Amil emphasized the insufficiency of cardiologists, noting that residents in these provinces face significant travel challenges for consultations. The PHA's long-term vision is to ensure that every city in the Philippines has at least one cardiologist, a goal deemed vital for reducing preventable heart disease-related deaths.
This initiative aligns with national health strategies. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address, committed to expanding specialty hospitals nationwide, such as the Philippine Heart Center, to provide advanced cardiac care accessible to all Filipinos.
To combat the shortage, the PHA has been engaging with 120 to 150 new cardiology graduates annually, presenting them with the association's vision and distribution maps to encourage practice in underserved provinces. However, challenges persist, including insufficient health facilities in remote areas and the preference of new graduates for private practice.
Despite these hurdles, progress is being made, with 17 heart centers established and 27 cardiology training programs across the country. The PHA's membership has grown to 2,545, yet the national ratio remains one cardiologist per 45,000 patients, far from ideal, especially in provinces lacking specialists.
In the interim, the PHA is considering forming sub-chapters in provinces without cardiologists. These groups, comprising internists and general physicians, would implement community heart health initiatives, improving local access to services and reducing travel costs for patients.
Dr. Amil reiterated the PHA's mission to lessen the nation's cardiovascular disease burden, emphasizing the importance of extending specialist services to the most underserved provinces. The association plans to hold a fellowship meeting with new graduates to promote its mission and encourage support for achieving a cardiologist presence in every city.
