SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The San Pablo City government is looking to build a new healthcare center that will cater to the city’s beneficiaries under the Universal Health Care Program (UHCP).
According to Dr. James Ho, newly-designated City Health Officer, San Pablo Mayor Vicente Amante has started setting in place the UHCP’s implementation to guarantee that laboratory exams and medicine will be accessible to San Pableños.
Part of the program is the proposed establishment of the City Health Office Center which will serve as the outpatient department for UHCP beneficiaries. The CHO Center will have its own laboratory equipped with blood chemistry procedures, cholesterol tests, Electrocardiogram (ECG), among others.
It will include a registration area for Philhealth’s Konsulta Package which will be beneficial for registered members as it will provide free outpatient fees, laboratory tests, x-ray and other medical procedures and tests.
The San Pablo CHO is also set to roll out the distribution of maintenance medicines for diabetics and those suffering from high blood pressure levels.
A major part of the Universal Health Care Act is ensuring that hospitals are functional and strengthened for Filipino families and communities.
According to Dr. Michael Ritche L. Flores, Chief of Hospital of San Pablo City General Hospital (SPCGH), the city government is looking to hire additional hospital staff to make sure that the services of the healthcare facility would better suit the needs of their patients.
Based on the hospital’s findings, residents of nearby towns are also being admitted to the SPCGH, thus reforms and new facilities are essential for its continued operations.
“Alinsunod sa mga tagubilin ni Mayor Vic Amante upang higit pang mapalawak ang pagkakaloob ng serbisyong pangkalusugan ay kailangang makapagpatayo ng bagong Operating Room, Emergency Room at Intensive Care Unit,” Dr. Flores said.
The SPCGH is a Level 1 hospital but is eyeing expansions and better facilities to be upgraded to Level 2 or 3 classification.
Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, which was signed into law on February 20, 2019, provides comprehensive and progressive reforms to ensure every Filipino has access to affordable, quality, and readily available health service suitable to their needs. (CH/PIA-Laguna; with reports from San Pablo City Information Office)
