The Department of Health on Monday bared its plan to modernize itself for the coming year to address inequity.

"So that the marginalized sector would get the same services being given to those with money from modernized hospitals," Health Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa said in a press briefing.

Herbosa said the plan includes the establishment of ambulatory care centers throughout the country to lessen the crowd in bigger hospitals in Metro Manila.

"We will bring the service closer to the public by creating national ambulatory and urgent care centers across the country," he said.

"It will be governed by the Department of Health in complementary to primary care or barangay health stations and rural health units run by local government units," he added.

Immunization

The Health chief said the department is also gearing up for its immunization program for children below five years old to combat vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and rubella.

Likewise, Herbosa said the department is aiming to lessen stunting and malnutrition rates from 27 percent to 14 percent.

"We also want to lessen the maternal mortality (rate), particularly from teenage pregnancies," he said.

Herbosa noted the department's plan to lessen the number of deaths from tuberculosis as well as lower cases of HIV and AIDS.

"We want zero deaths for the TB and lessen the new cases for HIV," he said.

Among those highlighted by the President in his second State of the Nation Address last year were rising cases of tuberculosis and HIV; hunger and nutrition-related issues; public health facilities; free dialysis sessions; and the release of long-overdue benefits for healthcare workers.