Super Health Center breaks ground in Batan

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, commended the successful groundbreaking of a Super Health Center in Brgy. Ambolong, Batan, Aklan on Saturday, 23 September, marking the local government unit's efforts to improve healthcare access in their community.

The event was attended by Congressman Ted "Nonong" Haresco, Mayor Michael Ramos, and Municipal Health Officer Dr. Aves Fantilanan.

Go was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding to ensure that more Super Health Centers are established across the country. Some 307 Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 through Go's initiative and with the help of DOH and fellow lawmakers, and 322 more Super Health Centers in 2023.

In his video message, Go said that these efforts aim to bring the government's healthcare services closer to the people. With a goal to cater to the basic health needs of communities, the Super Health Center shall provide services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostic services (including laboratory, X-ray, and ultrasound), pharmacies, and ambulatory surgical units. Additional services include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, as well as telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment.

The senator also highlighted the dire situation that many in remote and underserved areas often face in accessing healthcare, which can lead to delayed treatment and exacerbation of preventable health conditions. Early detection of diseases is one of the primary focuses of the Super Health Center, with primary care and medical consultations being a fundamental part of the center's mission.

"Ang Super Health Center na ito ay hindi lamang simpleng pasilidad. Ito ay isang halimbawa ng ating hangarin na siguraduhin na ang serbisyong medikal ay abot-kaya para sa bawat isa," stressed Go.

"Sa pamamagitan ng Super Health Center, magiging accessible sa inyong komunidad ang primary care, free consultation at early detection ng sakit para maiwasang lumubha pa ito," he continued.

Apart from Batan, the senator also supported the construction of other Super Health Centers in Aklan such as in Tangalan, Kalibo, Ibajay, Balete, Numancia, Malay, and New Washington — the last two of which held their groundbreaking last 15 September.

Moreover, the senator also urged individuals with health concerns to take advantage of medical assistance available at the Malasakit Center in Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, located in Kalibo, Aklan.

Established in 2018, the Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop aimed at helping particularly poor and indigent patients minimize their medical expenses to the lowest amount possible by collaborating with various agencies offering medical assistance programs.

This initiative was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, a law principally authored and sponsored by Go in the Senate. Presently, there are 159 Malasakit Centers spread across the country, and they have collectively provided support to more than seven million Filipinos, as reported by the Department of Health (DOH).

Moreover, echoing President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.'s priority of bringing specialized medical services closer to other parts of the country, Go highlighted that he has principally sponsored and is one of the authors of the Regional Specialty Centers Act which was recently enacted into law.

The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. It stands as a testament to the commitment of the government to uplift the nation's health infrastructure and bring actual medical services closer to the Filipino people.

"Ipagpatuloy natin na ilapit ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap na walang ibang matakbuhan. The more we should support their health needs, the more na mag-invest po tayo sa ating healthcare system," Go said.

"Huwag po natin silang pahirapan. Marami po sa mga kababayan natin sa iba't ibang sulok ng Pilipinas na wala silang sariling health facility. Kaya importante na mailapit natin ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito," he stressed.

Acknowledging the need to bolster the healthcare system in response to the pandemic, Go has also reintroduced bills that center on the establishment of two vital institutions: the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) and the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Senate Bill No. 195, as outlined, envisions CDC as the primary agency tasked to lead efforts related to the management and prevention of infectious diseases. Its core responsibilities include the development of policies and standards, disease surveillance and detection, data collection and analysis, public health communication, as well as research and evidence synthesis, all aimed at curtailing the spread of communicable diseases within the nation.

Meanwhile, under SBN 196, the VIP will be a focused hub for virology-focused investigations, research, and technical coordination across the entire network of virology laboratories throughout the country. Under this proposed legislation, VIP will provide guidance for the establishment and operation of testing, reference, and biosafety laboratories at Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 in various regions across the nation.