Published Paper Details:

This study aimed to assess the compliance of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija with the standards set for licensing, to identify areas for improvement and propose appropriate compliance measures. The research focused on ten key domains: Patient Rights and Organizational Ethics, Patient Care, Leadership and Management, Human Resource Management, Information Management, Safe Practice and Environment, Improving Performance, Physical Plant, Public Access to Price Information, and Equipment and Instruments. A quantitative-descriptive research design was used, utilizing survey questionnaires in the Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2020-0047-A, entitled "Rules and Regulations Governing the Licensure of Primary Care Facilities in the Philippines", facility assessments, and key informant interviews to gather data from selected PHC facilities. The analysis revealed that while facilities generally adhered to basic health standards in areas such as patient care and leadership and governance, significant deficiencies were observed in equipment availability, physical infrastructure, and public access to price information. Additionally, gaps in human resource capacity and documentation practices were noted. The findings indicate that many PHC facilities face challenges in fully meeting licensing requirements due to limited resources, limited trainings particularly in the provision of health services, and weak internal monitoring mechanisms. As a result, a proposed action plan was developed to enhance facility compliance through targeted interventions in health infrastructure support, instrument and equipment provision, capacity building, and health policy enforcement. This study highlights the need for strengthened local health systems and continuous quality improvement to ensure that primary health care facilities provide accessible, safe, and quality services in line with national health standards.