ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Sept 19 (PIA) – The Universal Health Care UHC) is bent on improving the health care system in Basilan soon said Norita Lozano- Sario, Supervising Administrative Officer of the Provincial Health Office on Monday.
Norita Lozano-Sario who is also the focal person on UHC in the province discussed during the PIA regular radio program at DXNO-FM Radyo Komunidad that the objective of Universal Health Care is to ensure equitable assess to quality and affordable health care and protection against financial risk. It also aims to make health services, medicines, equipment and other medical needs more accessible to the people of Basilan and to protect them from financial difficulties when they avail of these health services.
Lozano added that the UHC will also improve the health system in the province through upgrading of medical facilities and equipment.
“Maraming benebisyo ang makukuha ng mga Basileño sa ilalim ng UHC, ang pangkalahatang saklaw ng kalusugan ay nangangahulugan na ang lahat ng tao ay may access sa mga serbisyong pangkalusugan na kailangan nila, kung kailan at saan nila kailangan ang mga ito, nang walang kahirapan sa pananalapi. Kabilang dito ang buong hanay ng mahahalagang serbisyong pangkalusugan, mula sa pagsulong ng kalusugan hanggang sa pag-iwas, paggamot, rehabilitasyon at pangangalaga,” Lozano said.
She also emphasized that the programs under UHC aim that every Basileño family is matched to a primary care team, who ensures that they get the appropriate services they needed in the appropriate facility and will shift focus from traditional disease management to disease prevention and health promotion.
“Hindi lang 'yong sa medical services, pagamutan or sesbisyong medical ang ibbigay sa mga mamamayan, layunin din ng UHC na mas mapalawak ang kaalalaman ng bawat isa kung paano maalagaan ang ating kalusugan at masigurong makakaiwas tayo sa mga karamdaman. Sabi nga nila prevention is better than cure, so 'yong awareness campaign natin sa pagdisseminate ng impormasyon ay kasali din,” Lozano added.
She also explained that under UHC Act (RA 11223), the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the local government units of the provinces, cities and municipalities have roles and responsibilities in the areas of health service delivery, governance, financing, and procurement of health goods.
Lozano said that Basilan is part of the 58 UHC Integration Sites based on the Department of Health Memorandum 2020-0414. Basilan become part of UHCIS through the support and commitment of Governor Jim Hataman Salliman and the health sector in the province to provide best health services to Basileños.
“The UHC ensures that LGUs have enough funding for the maintenance and operation of their respective health systems and will utilize Local Executives for Health Governance to strengthen health situation. This may not solve all the problems but rather a big step in the continuation of health reforms,” Lozano stressed.
The Universal Health Care (UHC), also referred to as Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP), is the “provision to every Filipino of the highest possible quality of health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed and appropriately used by an informed and empowered public. This is one among the legacies of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (RVC/NDR-PIA Basilan with report from Roselle A. Carpio, GIP)
