Fernando plans to build 2 more modern public hospitals for Bulakenyos

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Reelectionist Governor Daniel Fernando says Bulacan has integrated the health systems of the barangays, municipalities, and cities for a more coordinated implementation of the Universal Health Care

BULACAN, Philippines – As he braces for what could be his final three years in office, reelectionist Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando envisions a full implementation of the Universal Health Care law in his province. He wants to highlight this with the upgrading of the Bulacan Medical Center and the construction of two more tertiary hospitals.

The state of public healthcare service in Bulacan was among the issues raised during Rappler’s April 28 “Make Bulacan Liveable” interview with the governor. We asked questions that were earlier fielded by Bulakenyo voters via the Rapper Communities app on the liveable-cities chatroom.

When asked about the state of public health, Fernando admitted that Bulacan was overstretched because of “limited tertiary health facilities.” A tertiary health facility refers to a specialized medical facility or hospital which provides complex and medical care.

The governor told Rappler that, although there are a number of state-of-the-art private hospitals in his province, there is only the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC) in the capitol of Malolos for lower-income Bulakenyos.

“‘Yung private hospital, puntahan ng mga may pera ‘yan. Saan ka patungo kung walang pera at may karamdaman ka? Saan ka pupunta? Public hospital. Out of 100 patients, 10 pupunta lang sa private because may pera. 90 pupunta ‘yan sa public hospital. Mga walang pera. So ngayon, punong-puno itong public hospital,” said Fernando.

(Private hospitals are for those who could afford it. Where do the lower-income people when they get sick? To the public hospital. Out of 100 patients, 10 could afford private medical care, while 90 will go to the public hospital. That’s why the public hospital is overflowing with patients.)

So far, Fernando said, he has “leveled up” the facilities in BMC, increasing its bed capacity, establishing its intensive care unit, and acquiring modern equipment.

“May ICU na po tayo ngayon sa ating BMC…may MRI pa at ultrasound…. Dati 16 beds lang kami, ngayon ginawa kong 66 beds,” he said.

(We now have an intensive care unit at the BMC. We also have magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound facilities. We also increased bed capacity from 16; now it has 66 beds available to the public.)

What made Fernando excited, though, was Bulacan’s designation as one of the first provinces in the country to integrate their local health systems under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. He said this means the provincial government, through a provincial health board, will be able to implement the law in a more coordinated way across households, barangays, municipalities and cities.

He added that this program will be funded by the provincial, regional, and national governments, presumably through the special health funds made available to provincial governments under the UHC law.

Fernando also said that they will upgrade a pair of district hospitals into tertiary levels.

“Kinakailangan po natin na at least maging dalawa [ang tertiary level hospitals]. Kaya po lahat ng mga district hospital po natin, pinapa-improve po natin, pinapa-construct po natin…. ‘Yung ating Gregorio [del Pilar District Hospital], ililipat po natin with the help of the municipal government ng Santa Maria, Mayor Omeng, nagkaroon na po tayo ng groundbreaking sa lupa. Ililipat po natin doon para magkaroon naman tayo ng isang tertiary na hospital po dyan,” Fernando said.

(We need at least two more [tertiary level hospitals]. That’s why we are improving our district hospitals. We are also transferring the Gregorio del Pilar District Hospital for upgrading with the help of Santa Maria town Mayor Bartolome Ramos. We have already completed the groundbreaking. We will build here the tertiary hospital.)

He said he was still looking for a place where a third tertiary hospital would be constructed. – Rappler.com