DOH taps mayors as partners

CEBU, Philippines -  Local chief executives are vital partners of health authorities in ensuring that the government programs are delivered and maximized.

So stressed regional director Jaime Bernadas of the Department of Health Central Visayas.

“Communication with local government unit heads is the foundation of an effective delivery of health service. They are our number one promotor. Without them, our programs will not be delivered fully,” Bernadas told The Freeman.

Apart from the dialogue done as part of the DOH On Wheels: Kalusugan Pangkalahatan roadshow in Cebu for two days, each dedicated for both north and south Cebu LGUs in Tabogon and Tuburan respectively, the regional health official said they regularly make sure to talk to them in groups.

“We do routine discussions with them. We are given time to attend the meetings and assemblies of leagues of mayors, councilors, governors, municipal health officers,” he added.

Bernadas further emphasized the opportunity to generate income from basic health service delivery by availing of certain government programs by both the DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“We have always emphasized that they can generate income not from direct pockets of the patients but through PhilHealth reimbursement. Garantisado ang indigents walay bayran,” he added.

A prerequisite for income generation through state health insurance reimbursement is providing for the necessary infrastructure and equipment required for accreditation.

Meanwhile, the number of dentists to be deployed in the region is still uncertain.

Assistant secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial earlier announced in Tabogon roadshow that DOH is hiring 420 dentists nationwide.

Despite the devolvement of health care to the local government unit, health care manpower augmentation has been done by DOH by hiring medical doctors to the barrios, as well as nurses and midwives deployment to areas of concern. — (FREEMAN)