A BAGUIO City official is pushing to institutionalize the City Epidemiologic and Surveillance System.
Councilor Joel Alangsab is acknowledging and supporting the firm commitment of the City of Baguio, per memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health (DOH).
Alangsab said it aims to improve the overall management of its local health systems, in coordination with civil society and non-health agencies, toward ensuring equitable access to quality and affordable health care and financial risk protection of the people they serve.
This will also guarantee decent predictable income, career advancement opportunities, and job security and satisfaction of its health care workers and assuring health care payers of provider compliance with quality and performance standards.
"Since the city-wide health system is currently being strained amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, even with the presence of volunteers and the DOH emergency-hired personnel to support the health workforce of the city, there is an imperative need to institutionalize the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Cesu) for it to be able to fully accomplish its dedicated tasks during outbreaks/epidemics," added Alangsab.
Alangsab added the City recognizes that effective whole-of-government and whole-of-society action against Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (Ereids) require a national government-enabled, local government-led and people-centered response, aligned with the principles of universal health care and the Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) and acknowledges the city-wide health system that will endeavor to establish a patient navigation and coordination system, harmonized information and communication technology, medical transport system, and network mechanisms for efficient operations and performance management.
Alangsab, in the proposed law, said the move ensures all the people of Baguio are health literate, provided with healthy living conditions and protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health, with access of the people of Baguio to a comprehensive set of quality and cost-effective, promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services without causing financial hardship and prioritizes the needs of the population who cannot afford such services amidst outbreaks/ pandemics.