THERE WILL be 11 super health centers (SHCs) that will be launched to cater to the needs of Davaoeños in far-flung communities, said Senator Christopher Bong Go.
Go, the senate committee on health chair, said these centers will be established in strategic areas to reduce travel expenses of patients going to hospitals far away from their homes.
The senator said the SHCs in Los Amigos and Toril Proper were already established and will be turned over to the local government. Meanwhile, they scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for the Dumoy SHC on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
He also said they plan to establish SHCs in Calinan, Catalunan Grande, Indangan, Paquibato, Tacunan, and Tibungco. Three others are in the pipeline pending assessment of the needs of the target communities.
“Mao ning isa ka pamaagi na idoul nato ang serbisyong medikal sa atong kaigsounan (This is one way to bring our healthcare services nearer to our brothers and sisters),” Go said during the Davao City Disaster Radio, January 16.
He added the center offers a wide range of services including primary care, consultation, early detection, and treatment to prevent disease from progressing.
Services offered in these centers include laboratories such as x-rays and ultrasounds, birthing, isolation units, outpatient care, and database management.
Specialized services such as eyes, ears, nose, and throat care, physical therapy, and telemedicine will also be offered.
These 11 SHCs are part of the 700 target SHCs to be established nationwide, particularly in underserved areas.
Go vowed to push the establishment of regional specialty centers in existing DOH regional hospitals, which in the city will be established in SPMC. This is in line with the Republic Act (RA) 11959, or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act,” institutionalized on Aug. 24, 2023.
Apart from the SHCs, Go said the Malasakit centers in hospitals will continue to assist the financial needs of patients. At present, there are 159 Malasakit centers nationwide.
The Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop to help people reduce hospital costs through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The lone Malasakit Center in the city can be found in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). Go was the principal author of the Malasakit Centers Act or Republic Act 11463 enacted in 2019.
