Expanding access strengthens healthcare system

Expanding access strengthens healthcare system | Daily Tribune

On 28 November, the Kidney and Transplant Institute was inaugurated at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.

The milestone marks progress in expanding Regional Specialty Centers that will benefit thousands of Filipinos across Southern Mindanao. Located at the heart of Davao City, SPMC also serves patients from various areas in Mindanao.

The SPMC Kidney and Transplant Institute is designed as a comprehensive facility that consolidates renal services in one location. It is equipped with a 100-bed hemodialysis unit, peritoneal dialysis services, an immunology and histocompatibility laboratory for donor-recipient matching, multiple operating rooms for transplant procedures, outpatient nephrology and urology clinics, and dedicated wards for both charity and private patients.

The institute is also structured to support research, training, and professional development in nephrology and transplant medicine, strengthening its role not only as a treatment hub but as a regional center for medical expertise in Mindanao.

As a health reforms crusader and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I am delighted to witness meaningful improvements in our healthcare facilities. Those who have less in life and those suffering from chronic illnesses are among the biggest beneficiaries of institutions like this. We are now taking concrete steps to address the urgent need for better access to renal treatment in the region.

As your senator, I am one of the authors and the principal sponsor of Republic Act 11959, which mandates the creation of Regional Specialty Centers within existing Department of Health (DoH) regional hospitals.

These centers aim to reduce the burden on families who shoulder high transportation and accommodation costs when seeking complex medical procedures in the capital.

I hope more Regional Specialty Centers will be established to address specialized medical needs and ease the burden on those living in far-flung areas.

Aside from the Regional Specialty Centers, we also have the Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers.

A Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies are brought under one roof to ensure that medical assistance programs are within reach of poor and financially incapacitated Filipinos. Institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, which we principally authored and sponsored, the 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide have served more than 17 million Filipinos.

Meanwhile, 700 Super Health Centers nationwide were funded and are being established through the national government, the DoH, local government units and the support of legislators.

I appeal to all responsible agencies to ensure the efficient and effective use of our healthcare facilities. Let us make each project operational to avoid white elephants and ensure that these investments truly serve the Filipino people.

As we continue the fight against massive corruption in government, I stand with the Filipino people in this crusade. Let us hold accountable those responsible for this mess.

On 26 November, we attended the opening ceremony of the MB Cup Citywide Tournament Season 2 in Quezon City as chair of the Senate Committees on Sports and on Youth. A total of 114 barangays joined the basketball tournament, an initiative of Councilor Mikey Belmonte to promote unity, discipline and healthy competition among the youth.

We also took part in the send-off program for Filipino athletes competing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on 28 November and extended support and best wishes to Team Philippines. Sports have the power to unite the nation under one flag. Galing ay ilabas, galing ng Pilipinas!

Last week, our Malasakit Team extended aid to displaced workers in Balete and Padre Garcia in Batangas; Muntinlupa City; and Masinloc, Zambales. Fire victims in Lipa City and Talisay in Batangas; Surigao City in Surigao del Norte; and typhoon victims in La Carlota City and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental also received relief.

We were also invited to the KATuwang sa Kalusugan Karavan in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Our Malasakit Team provided support to TESDA graduates from Nov Training and Assessment Center Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac and Raphael Alessandri Foundation Academy in General Santos City.

I will continue to serve the Filipinos in utmost care and ensure that their trust will not be wasted dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.