The delivery of healthcare in Negros Island Region (NIR) is getting a boost with the comprehensive services provided by 32 licensed primary care facilities (PCFs) across the region.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH)-NIR on Wednesday showed these include 26 PCFs owned by local government units (LGUs) and six privately-run PCFs.
Under the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law, the government aims to improve health equity by strengthening support for the primary health care system.
Negros Occidental has 13 PCFs; 12 are LGU-based, including those in the municipalities of Pontevedra, Isabela, Cauayan, Murcia, as well as in the cities of Sipalay, Talisay, Victorias, San Carlos, La Carlota, Escalante, Bago, and Silay.
The Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) Bacolod Extension Facility is the province’s lone private PCF based in this city.
Among the LGUs that obtained a license to operate earlier this month are the cities of Bago and Silay.
“We’re very proud as the City Health Office team to have a license as PCF. Under the UHC, we need to become a PCF. This is the fruit of our labor, and we are thankful for the direction of the administration in prioritizing healthcare among its constituents,” Bago City health officer Dr. Ferdinand Ramon Mayoga said in an interview.
After obtaining a license on Sept. 2, the Bago City PCF now offers comprehensive health services, including a birthing facility, Level 2 clinical laboratory, pharmacy, dental services, minor surgery, pharmacy, ambulance operations, and X-ray services.
In Negros Oriental, there are also 13 licensed PCFs, of which 10 are with the LGUs. These include those in La Libertad, Tayasan, Sibulan, Jimalalud, Dauin, and Mabinay, which have three PCFs, as well as in the cities of Dumagute and Guihulngan.
The private PCFs are the Dr. Care Medical Services and Clinic Management (Banilad), Dr. Care Medical Services and Clinic Management (Daro), and Diagcare Birthing Suite-IMAP Lying-in Clinic.
The PCFs in Siquijor are in all six municipalities of Maria, Lazi, Siquijor, San Juan, Larena, and Enrique Villanueva.
According to the DOH-NIR, a licensed PCF offers more advantages than a regular rural health unit, as licensing ensures compliance with DOH standards, better quality of care, and eligibility for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. accreditation under the YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) ng Pamahalaan program to ensure access to consultations, diagnostics, and medicines.
A licensed PCF provides comprehensive first-contact care, including consultations, preventive services such as immunization, maternal and child health, family planning, basic diagnostics, provision of medicines, management of common illnesses, health promotion, and referral to higher-level facilities. (PNA)
