Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya (14 July) -- A P39 million grant from the European Union is set to bring quality health services to all sectors here with the implementation of the Formula 1 health program in the province.

Dr. Edwin Galapon, acting provincial health officer and chief of the provincial hospital said the Formula 1 project for health program started in 2006 until 2010 which entails the implementation of the following components: service delivery, health governance, regulation which covers the upgrading of facilities and equipments of hospitals, rural health units and barangay health stations in the province and financing which targets the coverage of indigents under the Philhealth.

"This is now our third year of implementation. So far, an initial fund of P10 million was recently released which is supposed to be spent for the 1st and 2nd year of the program," Galapon said.

The P10 million, he added will be poured in for the purchase of medical equipments, improvement and purchase of new ambulances and additional vehicles for hospitals in the province this year.

Nueva Vizcaya is one of the 16 provinces chosen as pilot areas for the implementation of the formula 1 health program n the country.

According to Galapon, the Formula 1 health program specifically seeks to upgrade multi-level hospitals, rural health units and barangay health stations that would qualify them to be accredited by the Philhealth.

"In this way, health centers can generate income from their accreditation and we are hoping that they will become self-sufficient," he explained.

At present, Galapon said that out of 15 rural health units in the province, only 8 are Philhealth accredited and there are only 50 to 60 percent of indigents and non-indigents combined who are estimated to be members of Philihealth.