VILLAGE officials, heads of public and private hospitals, and representatives of non-government organizations in Cagayan de Oro City gathered on Wednesday, December 18, as the local government prepares for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC).
City Mayor Oscar Moreno described the new healthcare program as ambitious but long-overdue.
“We are now witnessing an evolution, a change of paradigm,” Moreno said of the UHC.
Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental were among the local government units across the country to pilot the program next year.
“I don’t think any of the 34 local government units can say that we are ready. We want to be ready that’s precisely why we have this stakeholders’ forum,” he said.
Moreno said the village support is key for the success of the program.
Under the UHC, provinces and highly urbanized cities will now be in charge of overseeing health services in areas as opposed to the current set-up where municipalities are tasked with managing their own health centers.
Meanwhile, Department of Health-Northern Mindanao director Dr. Adriano Suba-an said the ultimate goal of the UHC is to produce better outcomes in the country’s health services.
“We want nga wala’y mamatay nga Filipino na wala man lang nakit-an sa doctor. Wala’y pasenyte nga naayo lagi pero nabuslot ang bulsa, we need financial protection. And next kung nabuhi, then wala nabuslot ang bulsa, the question is satisfied ba siya sa services?” Suba-an said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said some P254.8 billion has been allotted for the first year of implementation of the law.