by EA Abasquez

San Jose, Antique (29 May) -- The Provincial Health Office here had finished advocacy work to different local government units on the PhilHealth Insurance program.

However, with the election of new set of local officials, new briefings will be conducted about the program in the local health zones, said Dr. Norman Tanchuan, Provincial Health Officer.

Tanchuan likewise bared of ongoing process in order to upgrade hospitals in the province. Part of the process is the conduct of assessment of health facilities in terms of doctors, nurses and equipment to meet the standards set by PhilHealth. The chief of hospitals were likewise instructed to conduct assessment on status of personnel, equipment and facilities of hospitals, the source said.

The province has one Level III or referral hospital, the Delegate Angel Salazar Jr. Memorial Hospital. The other hospitals are Level II located in Pandan, Culasi, Sibalom and Tobias Fornier. The rest of the hospitals, Barbaza, Valderrama and Bugasong Medicare Hospital belong to Level I, Tanchuan explained.

The ongoing assessment is in consonance with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s instructions for the cabinet to review the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) for final revision and approval this month.

Among the agencies concerned are the Department of Health tasked to accelerate issuance of PhilHealth cards to indigent families and the upgrading of local hospitals to secondary or basic tertiary level.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council and its component agencies shall complete the rehabilitation of super-typhoon ravaged areas in Bicol and nearby regions. This effort is urgent not only for the opening of schools next month, but also the reduction of hunger in the country, the source said.