MANILA -- The Marcos administration has established 131 specialty centers nationwide as of December 2023 and allocated PhP11.12 billion this year for more specialty centers in different parts of the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said.

“Noong August 24, 2023 pinirmahan ko ang Republic Act No. 11959 known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. Ito’y mga ating specialty centers, specialty hospitals sa iba’t ibang lugar,” President Marcos said in a video message posted on social media.

Under the law, the Department of Health (DOH) is designated to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in state controlled specialty hospitals, prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care.

The specialty centers prioritize in orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose, and throat care.

The administration also had accomplishments under the Doctors to the Barangays program, according to the President as 91 percent of municipalities have medical doctors assigned to look after the health of residents.

“Ang programang ito ay in-expand to 204 out of 218 municipalities naman. Ang katumbas niyan ay 91 percent na ng municipalities ay masasabi nating may nag-aalaga na doctor,” Marcos said.

“Kaya’t napaka importante nito, patuloy pa itong programang ito para naman masabi natin na talaga nating binabantayan ang kalusugan ng ating mga mamamayan,” he added.

The program was established in 1990s to supply doctors to municipalities without medical professionals. (PND)