THE Department of Health (DOH), in cooperation with the provincial government of Bulacan, is set to implement a medical assistance program in the province with the hopes of providing access to various medical services for eligible patients.
The program will allocate funds for government hospitals in Bulacan in order to provide patients confined in government hospitals with services such as consultation, rehabilitation, examination, regardless of room category as determined by the DOH to help take advantage of the zero-bill policy that is currently being implemented.
“Yung partnership ng provincial government of Bulacan at ng DOH na aking sinaksihan ay ‘yung medical assistance program ng DOH. Ang pwede pong maka-avail dito ay ‘yung mga mahihirap at walang access masyado na mamamayan ng lalawigan ng Bulacan sa mga health services ng DOH at ang proseso ay tulad pa rin po ng dati, gagabayan po kayo ng provincial government, particularly the Provincial Health Office (PHO),” says Senator Risa Hontiveros, who witnessed the signing of the agreement.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to implement the program was signed by Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Dr. Corazon Flores, MPA, CESO IV, Regional Director of the DOH Central Luzon for Health Development. The MOA signing, which was held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium here, was witnessed by Senator Hontiveros, Bulacan Vice Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Provincial Administrator Antonia Constantino and heads of government hospitals in the province.
“Bagaman ito pong programang pinirmahan ngayon ay institutionalized program ng DOH, masaya akong nasuportahan ko na madagdagan ang resources dito para tulung-tulong, bayanihan para madiretso ang access sa medical services sa mga Bulakenyo,” the senator added.
Meanwhile, Gov. Fernando expressed his appreciation for all the support and aid that the province has been receiving.
“Simula pa lang po ng sumiklab ang COVID-19, nakita natin kung paano tayo nagkaisang lahat at napagtagumpayan nga po natin ang 2020 pero nasurpresa nga tayo nitong 2021 nitong mga variant na ito. Salamat sa ating sama-samang pagsisikap, mahaba-haba pa po ang laban subalit tayo po ay ‘di dapat panghinaan ng loob. Patuloy po tayong lalaban ‘di lang sa virus na ito kundi sa lahat ng banta laban sa ating kalusugan at mga buhay,” Gov. Fernando said.
Based on the MOA , the provincial government shall ensure the availability of medicines, medical supplies and other health care services in provincial and district hospitals while the hospitals are responsible to facilitate the implementation of approved medical assistance to eligible patients, ensure availability of medicines, medical supplies and other health care services needed, and ensure that in no case shall the grant of assistance be delegated and/or transferred to a non-government organization or similar organizations, among others.