With UHC, Alejandro is hopeful that the whole health system in the province will be addressed where, he said, “public health is improving and the hospitals are improving but hospitals will be accepting less patients because patients are being managed at the community” thru health districts.

The provincial government in Sarangani is working out with its municipal LGUs in coming up with municipal ordinance to support the establishment of their 22 target health districts all over the province which would later be a component of the UHC.

Based on their health rationalization plan, Alejandro said these health districts will have 8-hour laboratory, 24-hour birthing home, 8-hour consultation, a pharmacy with 26 essential medicines, and an animal bite treatment center. Also covered is the treatment for pediatric and adult tuberculosis through outpatient Directly-Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS).

Alejandro projected this would lessen hospital admissions in Sarangani with the additional 22 doctors to attend to patients seeking consultation.

“Sa hospital, with the total population, 10% lang po dapat dyan ang pumupunta. Ang masaklap, with the 60% cases that should have been treated through consultation, sa hospital na pumupunta,” Alejandro added.

The provincial government operates hospitals in Glan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum and the big health care facility at the Provincial Capitol in Alabel which would become the provincial hospital.

Alejandro calculated some P400 million should fund the first year implementation of UHC in Sarangani based on their Philhealth collection for the whole province for 2018 which he expected to be frontloaded to Sarangani. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE)