The construction of the PHP12-million Super Health Center has started in this town as part of the government’s effort to upgrade public health services in this fourth-class municipality.

Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government unit here led the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday to signal the start of construction.

Mayor Bernardino Tacoy thanked the national government for granting their request to build the upgraded health center for the town’s 21 villages.

“Our existing rural health unit is very small. We need bigger facility that will enable us to provide more health services,” he told reporters.

The mayor said the local government is committed to providing equipment and hiring more health workers to support the Super Health Center’s operation.

Through these facilities, patients will be able to get a diagnostic exam before being referred to hospitals if needed, answering the gap in the country’s current patient referral system and inequities in healthcare access.

“The center is open to residents from nearby town since we want to provide service to more people,” Tacoy added.

The DOH intends to build similar facility in more areas nationwide to decongest regional and provincial hospitals.

In Leyte province, there are 20 Super Health Center that are either completed, ongoing, or planned, according to Engr. Narcissa Zeta of the DOH Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP).

“The DOH is funding the construction of Super Health Centers based on request of local governments with available lots and committed to support its operation,” Zeta said.

HFEP is mandated to support the Philippine Health Agenda “Boosting Universal Health Care” and is committed to providing funds to local governments over the coming years for the establishment of health infrastructure and medical equipment. (PNA)