Health chief lauds Leyte’s program to improve hospitals

By Provincial Media Relations Center
March 16, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Health Secretary Enrique Ona lauded the hospital facility enhancement project being implemented by the provincial government of Leyte and its incentive program for doctors and staff which has helped improved the facilities and services provided by province-run hospitals including the Leyte Provincial Hospital (LPH).

In his recent visit, Sec. Ona inspected new facilities constructed at the LPH and looked over upgraded infrastructure and equipment provided by the Department of Health under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).

The Leyte Provincial Hospital which has been allotted with DOH funding in the amount of P11,034,000 about P5 million of  which are for the repair renovation and expansion of infrastructure, and the remaining P6,034 for equipping.

Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla personally briefed the health chief on how the province managed to improve its hospital facilities and provided a way to give incentives for doctors and medical staff of the hospitals, which convinced them to stay and render their service in a government hospital than the more lucrative private medical practice here or abroad.

The governor also emphasized of the province’ thrust to widen its coverage for health insurance under the LGU-sponsored health insurance program of PhilHealth for indigent residents of the province.

He likewise shared Leyte’s move to identify hospitals under it for specific specializations such as the Abuyog District Hospital which is tapped to be the regional center for the treatment of filariasis.

Gov. Petilla said that the provincial government through the Provincial Health Office of Leyte will also continue in 2012 the implementation and management of the Inter Local Health Zone trust fund operations, with the province’s 40 municipalities and one city, having been divided into 10 Inter Local Health Zones.

Meanwhile, Sec. Ona lauded these efforts of the provincial government and called for the fast tracking of the completion of the facility enhancements as, “every government facility upgraded will lead to that many more Filipinos with health needs being served in an appropriate and timely manner.”