More than a hundred provincial health officers from the Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan (MIMAROPA) region converged in Puerto Princesa to discuss universal health care strategies.
With the theme “Universal health care high impact five strategy,” the conference was organized by the Department of Health and hosted by DOH MIMAROPA. Main focus is on the five priority areas of reducing maternal, infant, and under five mortality; reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS; and establishing service delivery networks.
Former energy secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla was guest of honor and speaker, together with Palawan Governor Jose Ch Alvarez, Puerto Princesa vice mayor Luis Marcaida III and DOH assistant secretary Dr. Nestor Santiago.
Representing Liberal Party standard-bearer and interior secretary Mar Roxas, Petilla said provincial hospitals were the most important government institutions that provide vital health services in the countryside.
“Health innovation follows a system. A sustainable hospital system should not be affected by the change of government leaders or elected officials like governors or mayors,” he stressed.
Citing his Leyte Health model while he was still provincial governor, Petilla said physicians were entitled to decent pay. He urged provincial health officers to help create a system that would motivate doctors and hospital staff to serve the public well.
Apart from energy issues, Information Technology (IT) and livelihood creation, Petilla is passionate about health care delivery especially in the country’s poorest areas. AU