The country’s health care system has mainstreamed the Covid-19 response actions and contains contingency plans for any possible new or emerging diseases that may bring health challenges this 2023 and beyond.
Department of Health OIC Sec. Maria Rosario Vergeire bared this in a media forum at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center garden on Jan. 1.
“Starting with this administration, we started integrating Covid-19 already into our normal programs, which means in our public health programs and strategies including the universal health care and primary care, those we are doing for Covid-19 are included,” Vergeire said.
“Makaka-asa ang ating mga kababayan na ang ating sistema sa kalusugan, ang health care system natin ay handang-handa na, not just Covid-19 but pati sa iba pang sakit na maaari nating maranasan sa mga susunod na buwan, o kaya ay sa mga susunod na taon,” Vergeire said.
She said under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., one of the primary focuses is the establishment of specialty centers all over the country.
So far, there are already 46 functional specialty centers and the establishment of additional 104 centers is set for this year.
“This will provide better access to all Filipinos para sa iba’t-ibang klase ng pangangailangan in terms of specialty care tulad ng sa kanser, sakit sa puso at sakit baga,” Vergeire said.
To make health services accessible to the Filipino people, she said there are already around 2,800 primary care facilities in the country that are accredited by Philhealth.
Aside from providing access to basic services, these also provide financial help through the PhilHealth benefit packages.
The DOH is also engaging 1,500 pharmaceutical outlets in line with the plan for PhilHealth to have an outpatient drug/medicine benefit, she added.
“Lahat ng ito ay isinasagawa natin sa ngayon. Pinagtitibay at pinalalakas natin lahat ng ating institutions tulad ng PhilHealth, Philippine Food and Drug Administration, at ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan mismo,” Vergeire said.
Vergiere led other DOH officials in visiting various sentinel hospitals all over the country on New Year’s Day as part of the “Iwas Paputok” campaign monitoring. – Carlito C. Dar
April 20, 2024
