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Towards a
socially-responsible
National Health Sciences Center
By Dr.
Marita V. Reyes
Chancellor, UP Manila
 Two
things were uppermost in my mind when I began to seriously put forth
my vision of UP Manila in the next 3 years: the celebration of the
UP Centennial in 2008 and the development of UP Manila these past
many years.
The UP Centennial in 2008 will be a milestone that will be met with
a well-deserved celebration of its 100 years of academic existence.
More than this, however, it will also be an occasion for a re-justification
of its being. Has it done its job as the university of the Filipino
people? Has it contributed to social transformation for national
development? Has it facilitated the evolution of intellectual
ferment towards the uplift of the condition of people and communities?
On the other hand, UP Manila has grown as an organization these
past several years. We now have a National Institutes of Health
(NIH) that plays host and gives support to various research groups.
The university council has in the recent past approved dozens of
graduate programs. Distance education for short training courses
and graduate programs has been developed and health informatics
and data systems have been institutionalized. UP Manila does
seem poised and prepared to face the next millennium.
But how have these developments impacted on the Filipino people?
On the health care system? On health policies? On professional
health care practices? On health professional training? Where are
our graduates? Will the “revitalization” of the general education
program engender the necessary directional perspective for the teacher
and the future graduate?
There is a need to check our bearings so that we can move on with
more joyful confidence that, indeed, UP Manila, as a health sciences
center will be “ever responsive to the needs and aspirations of
the Filipino people and sensitive to the ideals and values of humanity...dedicated
to the inviolability and dignity of the human person, the pursuit
of truth and freedom through critical thinking, the achievement
of social justice, and the institutionalization of the democratic
way of life,” as stated in our declared common vision.
A Framework for Social Responsibility in a Health
Science Institution
The World Health Organization has recently brought to the attention
of health stakeholders the inherent obligation of the health care
system and all its institutions to social accountability. In order
to fully respond to societal needs, health institutions must accept
responsibility for the outcome of their programs. True, the outcome
is dependent on many factors outside of the program itself, but
this only means that the institution must also see to it that the
environment is favorable to the practice of its graduates.
The institution must embark on partnerships with the community,
the policy makers and other organizations that matter in the environment.
Thus, a socially accountable institution is one that is socially
responsible. And, in this regard, the framework for social
responsibility consists of four values: quality, relevance, cost-effectiveness
and equity. This means that all programs — i.e., curriculum,
research and service — must be planned, implemented, and evaluated
on the basis of all these values. This framework shall be
the lens by which we shall examine UP Manila and shall be our guide
in leadership, governance, planning and strategizing.
Plans and Strategies
A. On Leadership and Governance:
Leadership and governance in UP Manila shall be characterized by
accountability, transparency, collegiality and fairness. It shall
be respectful of the rights and dignity of persons. The Pamantasang
Asamblea shall be revived and the Yunit Asamblea strengthened. It
shall be committed to uplifting the work and learning conditions
in the university. Budget planning and implementation shall
be rationalized according to the financial planning paper of former
U.P. Vice President Erlinda Echanis. Budget mechanisms of the Philippine
General Hospital shall be seriously examined so that these will
be responsive to the needs of a service and training institution
of its size.
B. On Academic and Training and Research Programs
Academic and training programs and the research program will be
reviewed and reconfigured (Bb. Lily calls this “right-shaping”)
according to the social responsibility framework. We shall avoid
using “competitiveness” and “leadership” parameters and instead
use complementation, coordination, and collaboration.
Development of courses in the general education program shall be
prioritized. I have a special interest in the School of Health Sciences
in Palo, Leyte. I am concerned that the faculty and students do
not have enough academic interaction that should be central to a
university.
The
role of the NIH as a research institution shall be clarified and
its niche identified vis-a-vis PCHRD (DOST), ENHR (DOH), and NRCP
thrusts and concerns.
C. On the Service Programs
There shall be a consolidation and coordination of service programs
in the light of the Pahinungod program. We shall avoid duplication
and move toward the enhancement of programs. I have special concerns
for the Women’s Desk and the Child Protection Unit of PGH.
D. Other Special Concerns
1. I shall look into the quality and safety of student dormitories
in the vicinity.
2. Let us put up a placement office/program for our graduates through
linkages with appropriate institutions.
3. Development program for faculty, research, and administrative
personnel shall be rationalized and maximized.
Conclusion
The use of the social responsibility framework should help us locate
the position of UP Manila and its units in the Philippine Health
Care System. The results of our assessment shall guide us in charting
our future. I have been most inspired by what I have observed among
the faculty and students during the discussions on the GE program.
The university is lush with ideas and fervor. We can argue and debate
and remain friends. With a common vision and commitment, together
we shall overcome.
See
also: Ptyk is home
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