Makati gov’t to purchase modern equipment for city-run hospital

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Makati will purchase modern equipment for Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) in District 2 to improve its health care program for its citizens.

In her State of the City Address, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the government would procure equipment such as Electrocardiography machines, commuted tomography (CT) scanner, anesthesia machines, additional ophthalmology equipment and a “4K laparoscopy tower that provides visualization and documentation of endoscopy procedures.”

Aside from this, the city government is also coordinating with institutions in Singapore for construction of the OsMak in District 1, which is expected to be completed by 2022.

“We are currently in talks with key health institutions in Singapore on how we can make this a reality as I also envision a cancer institute that will be at par with the region’s best.  What I want is to provide the best care for the least cost.” Binay, who is currently serving her second term as Makati City mayor, said.

Under Makati government’s health reforms, 680,000 active Yellow Card holders availed themselves of “free medicines, vitamins, antibiotics and other pharmaceutical items,” as of December 31, 2019.

Yellow cardholders are entitled to “outpatient consultation and subsidized hospitalization and diagnostic tests at the OsMak.

“Our free medicines program aims to defray household expenditures of our Makatizens, especially of underprivileged families whose members are taking maintenance meds for hypertension, diabetes and other prevalent conditions,” Binay said.