Department of Health

Receiving Officer 10:43 AM, Oct 09, 2023

October 9, 2023

Dear Beatriz Bianca,

Thank you for your request dated Oct 09, 2023 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for The number of Mental healthcare workers in the Philippines.

We received your request on Oct 09, 2023 and will respond on or before Oct 28, 2023 01:50:20 AM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPSC03MDAzNDU5OTg3NjUM, for request with ticket number #DOH-700345998765.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Maker 11:39 AM, Oct 09, 2023

Good day! 

Please be informed that we have endorsed your request to DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL BUREAU  for action. 

Kindly await for their response. 

Thank you.

Maker 12:48 PM, Jan 29, 2024

January 29, 2024

Dear Beatriz Bianca Galon,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Oct 09, 2023 01:50:20 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your Request

You asked for The number of Mental healthcare workers in the Philippines.

Response to Request

Your FOI request is approved. 

Please refer to the Mental Health Program for an overview of the services we provide and some materials we readily share.  Rest assured that the Mental Health Division looks into these conditions in compliance with RA11036, otherwise known as the Mental Health Act, which encompassess mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders.

This is in response to your eFOI request (#DOH-700345998765) regarding data on the following:

1. The number of Mental Healthcare workers within 2018-2023. -  You may refer to this study on the link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-international/article/mental-health-services-in-the-philippines/539D09F6F7D56461A8653478FC63CAA1

on the MH services in the Philippines. There are around 700 psychiatrists, and 1000 psychologists. That would mean around  2–3 MH professionals per 100 000 population. 
1.1. In the Philippines
1.2. Bicol Region -  Attached is the directory of Centers for Health Development for your reference. You may ask in these offices for specific data. 
2. The prediction of the number of Mental Healthcare professionals and workers 2023-2040 - It will be hard to measure if there will be a significant increase of mental health professionals in the coming years. The Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH) has continuously advocated for the uptake of MH professionals, even broadening the cadres to help address the needs (including psychologists and guidance counselors). However, it will be a challenge as there are no incentives/scholarships yet for doctors to consider psychiatry. Currently, the direction is to train primary care workers on mhGAP. Kindly read about it on the link below.

The proposed Mental Health Information System (MHIS) is still being developed and covers the statistics of priority conditions as stipulated in the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP)  namely: depression, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, suicide, epilepsy, dementia, disorders due to use of alcohol, disorders due to use of illicit drugs, and mental disorders in children. The MHIS (to be managed by the National Center for Mental Health) should integrate and consolidate mental health related data including cases on mental health conditions. Although this may also be through the improvement of the iClinicSys of the DOH Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (KMITS). As stated, not all listed cases would have data in our surveys and we are yet to improve hospital data through the establishment of electronic medical records. 

The  WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) is posted at the link: https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/treatment-care/mental-health-gap-action-programme#:~:text=mhGAP%20Operations%20Manual-,The%20WHO%20Mental%20Health%20Gap%20Action%20Programme%20(mhGAP)%20aims%20at,to%20achieve%20universal%20health...

Thank you

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to the Central Appeals and Review Committee, at foi@doh.gov.ph. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you about the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Decision Maker
FOI Receiving Officer