Capiz officials have rosy outlook for health
ROXAS CITY -- Health and provincial officials in Capiz are looking forward to more improved health facilities in the various hospitals here.
According to Dr. Samuel Delfin, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Capiz, said that they have included the improvement of health facilities as one of the proposals in its health rationalization plan which was submitted to the Department of Health (DOH).
Delfin said that the upgrading of hospitals and its facilities was also contained in the province's investment plan for health.
He explained all the proposals in said rationalization plan are all aimed to meet the targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), particularly on maternal and child health.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already earmarked P500 million Katas ng EVAT program for the upgrading of primary hospitals to secondary hospitals.
President Arroyo earlier launched the 'Katas ng EVAT' for the upgrading of primary hospitals to secondary hospitals that can perform simple operations like ceasarian- section delivery.
It has been the thrust of the President to deliver enhanced healthcare services to the poor, made possible through increased revenue collections from the implementation of tough economic measures such as the EVAT.
The upgrading of primary hospitals to secondary hospitals is among the President's plans to make available enhanced healthcare services even to the farthest municipalities nationwide.
A secondary hospital has X-ray and laboratory facilities, and an operating room capable of ceasarian-section delivery to decrease maternal mortality.
Meanwhile, Delfin revealed that Capiz belongs to the DOH's FOURmula One priority provinces.
He added that the province is also a recipient of a grant assistance by the European Commission for the implementation of health programs and services that will greatly contribute to the attainment of the MDGs.
On the other hand, Health Secretary Francisco Duque explained that FOURmula One is a framework for health sector reforms in the Philippines for the medium term covering 2005-2010.
It is designed to implement critical health interventions as a single package, backed by effective management infrastructure and financing arrangements, he said. (PIA)