Rosal’s first 100 days in office: Improvement of Albay’s health services

By Cet Dematera

LEGAZPI City --- The Provincial Government of Albay has prioritized the improvement of the direly needed health care services across the province as one of its priority programs in order to further improve the delivery of health services to the Albayanos, particularly those people residing in remote areas and far-flung villages.

In the first 100 days “Ulat sa Bayan” of Governor Noel E. Rosal on Thursday, he announced that he would continue to improve and rehabilitate the health care system in all the province-run public hospitals, including clinics and infirmaries, by providing the medical equipment and medicines needed by the patients.

He said Albay has allocated already P45-million as part of the newly approved P257-million supplemental budget that would be used for the improvement and rehabilitation of the existing medical facilities.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay has also approved P67-million as an additional fund to support the operation of the hospitals and infirmaries by hiring additional doctors, nurses and other medical staff in order to speed up attendance to patients. Also, we need to augment the medical manpower to fast track the enrolment of Albay to the Universal Health Care (UHC),” Rosal added.

He said that his administration will implement the “no balance billing” or “no out pocket expenses” especially for those patients who have difficulties in paying their hospital bills.

Rosal said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has also passed a resolution to procure radiology machine as well as CT scan, Ultrasound machines other laboratory apparatuses, and dental, pharmacy and diagnostic equipment to be set up to the different Albay district hospitals.

He also said that the province has improved already the facilities and equipment at the Dr. Lorenzo P. Ziga Memorial Hospital in Tabaco City that included the rehabilitations of operating rooms with new beds, emergency carts, air conditioners and x-ray room.

“There is also on-going improvements in Batan Island District Hospital, Josepina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital and Pio Duran Memorial District Hospitals,” Rosal said.

Also given budget are the operations of various Albay-run hospitals that included the DR. LP Ziga Memorial District Hospital (P5.215-million); JB Duran Albay Provincial Provincial Hospital (P7-million); Pioduran Memorial District Hospital (P5.355-million); Cagraray District Hospital (P1-million); Manito Municipal Hospital (P1.48017); and, Villahermosa Municipal Hospital (P400,000).

The office of the Governor was also authorized by the SPA to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health- Bicol Center for the implementation of Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) program of the government.