Vice President Sara Z. Duterte underscored Thursday the need to strengthen the country’s public health system.

In her speech at the opening ceremony of the 49th Midyear Convention of the Philippine College of Surgeons here, Duterte cited the country’s journey throughout the pandemic as an eye-opener to put premium priority on public health.

“Coming from one of the biggest cities in the country, I have learned that it is necessary to establish satellite offices in various parts of the country to further help our countrymen,” she said, adding that the poor should have wide access to medical services.

Duterte also thanked the doctors for their sacrifices to save lives at the height of the pandemic.

“The pandemic has awakened us to see that we still need to strengthen our health sector and our health care services and to ensure that medical services are accessible to our countrymen, especially those who need help,” she said.

Duterte said the unavailability of basic health services in marginalized communities has inspired the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to establish a medical assistance program and ensure public funds are serving those in need.

The OVP has eight satellite offices outside the National Capital Region. They are in the cities of Cauayan, Dagupan, Bacolod, Tacloban, Cebu, Davao, Tandag, and Zamboanga.

Duterte said the increase in the use of funds allocated for medical aid shows that the goal of the office to bring government services “closer to the people” is being achieved. (PNA)