Section 4December 22, 1997, Sec./Art. 4

The regional government recognizes health as a basic human right and the attainment, maintenance and protection thereof shall be its responsibility to the people. The regional government affirms that health is an instrument for and a product of socioeconomic development. For this purpose, it shall, among other things:

(a) Establish, maintain, and support an effective health care delivery system utilizing primary health care as a comprehensive and integrated approach;

(b) Ensure that the health care system is governed by the principles of service, social justice, and equity;

(c) Popularize health knowledge and skills to enable the people to take responsibility for their health;

(d) Give relevant training and appropriate standards for health workers and professionals;

(e) Establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system which shall provide for the adoption of an essential drug list, encourage the use of generic medicines or drugs, and promote the use of herbal medicines and indigenous health resources;

(f) Conduct research and compile traditional healing methods and cultural health practices; and

(g) Evolve financing schemes to effectively lessen the costs of health care.