Various doctors, nurses, and other health professionals gathered in front of Palacio del Gobernador building as Health Workers Partylist filed its Motion for Reconsideration to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today, August 27, 2024.
Following the celebration of National Heroes Day yesterday, Dr. Joyce Brillantes, Officer-at-Large of Health Workers Partylist, pointed out the irony of the situation. “It is hollow and insincere to hail health workers as “modern heroes” bravely fighting in the frontlines only to deny their bid to push for changes in our ailing healthcare,” said Dr. Brillantes.
Last August 22, COMELEC en banc resolved to dismiss the Petition for Registration of Health Workers Partylist to run in the 2025 Philippine midterm election. Citing an oversight on technical differentiation of a sectoral organization versus a sectoral party, the COMELECās decision effectively hinders health workers from having a genuine representation in the Congress.
“Who else will carry the genuine interests of Filipino health workers and patients but us health workers ourselves?” Dr. Brillantes added.
Health Workers Partylist believes that the non-fatal error pointed out by the COMELEC should not tower above the essence and intent of the partylist to represent health workers. This comes especially true in the background of the rechanneling of funds away from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), the Monkeypox outbreak, and the general worsening of health outcomes in the country.
Lastly, the partylist called on health workers and advocates within and beyond the National Capital Region continue their support for Health Workers Partylist for its accreditation and participation in the upcoming election.
