• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More dialysis centers will be established in three Capitol-managed hospital also in line with the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
Aside from the 15-bed dialysis center at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Lacson said the construction of another one at the Cadiz District Hospital has already been completed and awaiting equipment installation.
The provincial government is adding two more dialysis centers at Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City, and Valladolid District Hospital in Valladolid town, which are now ready for budgeting and procurement.
Soon, patients will not need to travel far to access treatment, he added.
Lacson also reported the start of the construction of the Provincial Health Office supply depot beside the vaccine cold room at the Capitol motor pool in Bacolod City.
This is aimed at enhancing the storage capacity, integrating and streamlining the storage of medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies in one location, the governor said, stressing that this also aligns with the infrastructure requirements outlined in the UHC Act.
“We will improve or resource management, monitoring, and the responsive distribution of medicines and supplies from the supply depot to local government units and barangays by utilizing an in-house developed interactive app,” Lacson further said.
This innovation aims to ensure that resources are efficiently moved and made available where the actual needs arise at the proper time.
“Our goal is to significantly reduce, if not entirely eradicate, the issue of unutilized expired medicines. The utilization of medicines will be monitored in real time, even at the level of the beneficiaries in the hospitals and health care facilities using our MIS (Management Information System),” the governor said.
He added that even before the implementation of the UHC, the province has initiated the process of upgrading the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital into a Level 3 Hospital, and Cadiz District Hospital, Valladolid District Hospital and Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital into Level 2 hospitals.
“These were made strategically based on their location and the population they will serve within their catchment area, and ensures the accessibility and availability of adequate services, facilities, doctors, and medical staff to our constituents,” Lacson said.
“We will continue to provide and source funds to offer financial protection to all our constituents through initiatives such as No Balance Billing, Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients, and Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program,” he added. | GB
