Calabarzon hospitals hold health care summit

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration’s Health Agenda identifies universal health care as among its most important programs. The goal is to achieve universal coverage within three years or by 2013.

The Department of Health (DOH) reform agenda for 2010-2016 is, in fact, anchored on the attainment of universal health care.

It is in this context that the Center for Health Development Region 4-A led by its director, Dr. Edgardo Gonzaga, organized a one-day activity dubbed “Calabarzon Hospitals’ Summit” last Aug. 16 at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI). 

More than 130 participants from various private and government hospitals with their respective local government officials attended the summit.

The DOH invited Dr. John Cresencio Alonzo, vice president for medical services of St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center and Cancer Institute, to speak on the public-private partnership initiatives of the private health sector. 

Also invited as resource speakers were Undersecretary Ted Herbosa, Dr. Mario Villaverde, and representatives of PhilHealth and the Budget department.

Alonzo spoke on the programs of their hospital’s foundation, the Antonio and Leonila Torres Foundation, saying, “We would like to reinforce the idea of health care beyond medical missions and doleouts. We chose to change the landscape of social responsibility by arming the health workers and the community at large with the information and skills to improve the health of their constituents, especially the poor.”

Most notable among these programs are the cleft program of the hospital and the cancer advocacy program of their Cancer Institute.

The cleft program, in partnership with SmileTrain Foundation, employs a multi-disciplinary approach in the treatment and management of cleft lip and palate patients. The program implements not only surgery but also pre-operative and post-operative activities.

Dr. Florentino Afable, the cleft program coordinator, said taking care of one of the most ridiculed and neglected children of society makes it a more meaningful endeavor for the hospital. To date, more than 1,200 poor children have benefited from the program.

The cancer advocacy program, as spearheaded by Dr. Enrico Tangco, undertakes free patient education workshops in cancer awareness, prevention and lifestyle modifications and early detection.

It also provides training and capacity-building for the health workers and the communities. The hospital has also participated in various local and national cancer advocacy activities. Interstitial brachytherapy is another innovative treatment being offered and this involves delivering radiation into the tumor through the use of needles.

People living in the south would mostly benefit from the institute’s packages and programs.

And with the financial risk protection program of PhilHealth, treatment options in cancer management become equitable and accessible to all.

The summit has opened opportunities for dialogue between the public and the private health sector in the Calabarzon region.

It served as the venue to understand on how the roles of both the private and public health sectors can be integrated toward a coherent functional, efficient and equitable health system.