• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reported that Negros Occidental has achieved major breakthroughs in public health during the First Unilab Foundation Executive Symposium held at Bayanihan Center in Pasig City on Monday, Sept. 28.
These include 26 newly licensed primary care facilities, 100 percent Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) accreditation across its healthcare institutions, and a 97 percent PhilHealth coverage rate for its 2.6 million residents.
The provincial government’s accomplishments detailed the ongoing transition toward a fully integrated and responsive Province-Wide Health System.
Addressing geographic and economic hurdles across 31 local government units (LGUs) and 601 barangays, 18 percent of which are categorized as urban underserved or geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, the governor shared that the province built its network of 26 licensed primary care facilities from zero, drastically cutting down travel time for rural residents seeking essential medical care.
“These reforms are anchored on ‘Bridging Leadership,’” Lacson emphasized, noting that the initiative bridges the provincial government, LGUs, local hospitals, frontline healthcare workers, the Department of Health, PhilHealth, and private sector partners.
Beyond basic care, the province has scaled up specialized services, including hemodialysis, HIV treatment, CT scans, and mammography, while expanding telemedicine options.
To ensure seamless medical logistics, pharmacists have been deployed across all LGUs, backed by the newly completed Provincial Health Office Supply Chain Management Warehouse to secure the medicine supply chain, the governor further stated.
Digital integration and emergency response have also taken center stage, through Negrense Electronic Medical Record Integrated System, which is a unified digital platform connecting medical assistance, hospital inventory, health program tracking, and command systems.
Also included is the Emergency and Referral Infrastructure, a connected patient transport network driven by Provincial 911, deployed emergency medical technician units, a Patient Transportation System, and the One Hospital Command center.
Lacson also reported the ongoing modernization across provincial hospitals, including the upgrading of Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital toward a Level 3 facility, with 100 percent of provincial health facilities PhilHealth-accredited to minimize out-of-pocket medical expenses for local families.
Lacson was joined by a delegation of provincial officials, including Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ma. Ayessa Hugnatan. | GPB
