KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Pursuant to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital in the Municipality of Surallah recently launched its public health unit (PHU), the first such facility in South Cotabato and in Region 12.
"The purpose of this is the implementation of all national public health programs as well as para magkaroon tayo ng coordination mechanism with our primary care provider network (PCPN)," Dr. Ceril Magbanua-Borromeo, SGH medical center chief, said.
Through the public health unit, she added, the "hospital can provide a one-stop-shop patient navigation system within the institution."
The unit will also bridge the gap between public health and the clinical services offered by the hospital, and between the hospital and external health services as well as the private sector.
It will ensure proper referral of patients from barangay health centers, where patients are screened and treated for primary health concerns while those needing higher levels of intervention are transferred to either a Level 1, Level 2, or tertiary hospital depending on the health services a patient requires.
She elaborated further that this process will help decongest higher-level hospitals since only patients who need the specific services they provide will be transferred to them.
"SGH wants to be the pioneer in the establishment of a public health unit because, by history, it has not yet been established in South Cotabato and even in BARMM where I came from," Dr. Borromeo said.
"Having an established PHU, our networking will be strengthened, which means that both the preventive and promotive aspects of our healthcare will also be improved."
Department of Health-Center for Health Development-Soccsksargen (DOH-CHD XII) Regional Director Aristides Concepcion Tan said that among public hospitals in SOCCSKSARGEN Region, SGH is the first to initiate the establishment of a public health unit.
Republic Act 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act,” mandates all hospitals to establish their respective PHUs.
Section 17.4 of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11223 states: “To facilitate the provision of population-based health services, a public health unit shall be established in all hospitals to support the implementation of national public health program; institutionalize a coordination mechanism with primary care provider networks; and provide a one-stop shop patient navigation support mechanism within the hospital.”
Meanwhile, Administrative Order No. 2020-0019, issued by former health secretary Francisco Duque III on May 14, 2020, explains this provision of RA 11223, stating that the PHU’s objective is to ensure that hospital policies are aligned with the national health program; assist the hospital management in ensuring surveillance and reporting of notifiable diseases through the disease surveillance officer or disease surveillance coordinator; and ensure proper referral and navigation of patients within the hospital and from the hospital to primary care facilities and other necessary facilities in the network.
A PHU shall be established under the Office of the Medical Center Chief with a minimum of dedicated or designated staff composed of a health education and promotion officer, a care navigator or educator, and an administrative staff.
