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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Experts and stakeholders convened to address the critical shortage of developmental pediatricians and allied health and special needs education (SNEd) professionals in Region 10.
Organized by the Social Development Committee (SDC) of the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council (RDC)-10, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on August 14, 2024, at NEDA-10 sought solutions to this pressing issue.
The region’s two developmental pediatricians, Dr. Annah Rebecca V. Doroja and Dr. Cindy Canceko-Llego participated with representatives from the Philippine Academy of Occupational Therapists, Philippine Association of Speech-Language Pathologists, Philippine Physical Therapy Association, and Autism Society of the Philippines.
The discussion reflected a collaborative effort, including contributions from deans of top universities’ Colleges of Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, the School of Education, Department of Health training hospitals, and relevant regional government offices.
Building on the momentum from the 15th National Convention Business Meeting of the RDC Private Sector Representatives, which passed Resolution No. 24, Series of 2024, highlighting the national shortage of developmental pediatricians, the FGD also addressed the scarcity of related professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, and special needs educators.
The goal was to identify regional and national governments’ challenges and propose practical interventions and solutions.
Participants emphasized the urgent need for early diagnosis and intervention for children with autism and other developmental disorders.
Long wait times for appointments, reaching 3.5 years, hinder early intervention.
The discussion also revealed a shortage of professionals in the region, compounded by limited educational programs.
In response to the shortage of developmental pediatricians and allied health professionals in Region X, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) proposed several recommendations. The group suggested inviting developmental pediatricians from other regions to serve as visiting specialists to address immediate needs and advocate for scholarships and fellowship grants to train more professionals in developmental pediatrics and related fields.
To improve medical training, the FGD recommended increasing exposure to developmental pediatrics and supporting sub-specialization with dedicated rotations and continued salary support during fellowships.
The discussion highlighted the need for training programs for educators and healthcare workers to enhance early detection and support for children with disabilities. Emphasis was on research in developmental conditions and workforce assessments to inform future policy and training initiatives.
The FGD also proposed allowing general pediatricians to issue PWD (persons with disability) IDs to facilitate better access to benefits for children with disabilities. Collaboration with higher education institutions was recommended to establish and expand speech and language pathology programs, including occupational and physical therapy.
Finally, a comparative salary study was suggested to standardize pay and attract more professionals to the public sector.
The activity underscored the urgent need for coordinated action to address the shortage of developmental pediatricians and related professionals to improve access to essential services for children with developmental conditions and better support their families.
These findings and proposals will be presented to the RDC-X for further deliberation and potential policy action. (NEDA-X/PIA-10)
