TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Gov. James Edduba vowed to work for the upgrading of the various health facilities in the province, including the Kalinga Provincial Hospital, to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of quality health care services to the people.
Edduba, who recently assumed the province’s chief executive post, claimed that it had been the clamor of the people to bring back the zero billing for patients confined in duly accredited health facilities, like the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH), to ease the burden of hospital bills, including medicines, of patients being treated in the health units.
He added that one of the major interventions the provincial government will try to implement is to work for the upgrading of the KPH from its current status to a Level 2 health facility to increase its bed capacity aside from increasing the supply of medicines that could be given for free and the improvement of the existing equipment to be able to cater to the needs of patients with complicated health conditions who seek medical attention from the said facilities.
The governor underscored there is a need to bring back the old practice of the provincial government providing the appropriate funding support to the operation and maintenance of the hospital so that patients being confined in the facilities will not be required to purchase their medicines from outside pharmacies, apart from ensuring zero billing for their prescribed treatment for their illnesses.
According to him, provincial officials will do their best to deal with the situation during the early months of their incumbency so that the appropriate solutions to identified problems on the operation of health facilities will be given the right attention.
He disclosed that aside from the KPH, the provincial government also administers, manages and operates several district hospitals in the different parts of the province which is also sharing on the allocation of the province’s limited resources being earmarked for the effective and efficient delivery of quality health care services.
Edduba explained that he could not understand why the previous zero billing for patients confined in the KPH had been scrapped when many people had been benefiting from the implementation of this during the past administrations that is why the province continued to provide funding support to sustain its continuity.
Edduba also assured the people he will try to ensure the full implementation of the Universal Health Care program in the province so those who get sick can avail of the benefits that have been provided for them to be able to easily recover from their illnesses without being unduly stressed on how to settle their bills.
Gov. Edduba stipulated that health is an important aspect of life that must be fully supported by the government to ensure that the people remain healthy and productive and contribute to the overall growth and development of their respective localities.
