Davao del Norte received a big boost in its delivery of basic health care services with the allotment of P5 million for the DavNor Malasakit Center coming from the Office of the President (OP).
Josephine Mitaran, officer-in-charge of Lingap Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), represented Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in handing over the check to Governor Anthony del Rosario after delivering his recent State of the Province Address. The monthly fund from the OP-Socio-Civic Projects Fund, which is subject to replenishment, is intended for the zero-billing scheme of the three Davao del Norte Hospitals – Kapalong Zone, Carmen Zone and Samal Zone. This is besides the P10 million that the provincial government has allocated for the one-stop shop medical services per year.
The Memorandum of Agreement between the provincial government and the OP stipulates that the fund covers “prescription medicines, medical supplies/devices and diagnostics tests and other hospital care medical services and support to indigent, vulnerable, and disadvantaged patients” in the province.
Del Rosario launched the DavNor Malasakit Center Pagkalinga sa Kapwa Program last year, in support to the Duterte administration’s program to provide improved access to quality health care, particularly for the poor and underprivileged patients. “Angsocio-economic stability and growth sa probinsiya nagsalig sa maayong panglawas sa katawhan…. kita naningkamot nga sakto, takos ug epektibo ang atong mga health and social services (The stability and growth of the province hinges upon the health of the people… we aim to deliver the right, competent and effective health and social services),” the governor stressed in his SOPA, after expressing his gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Some 265 emergency patients in the province have availed Center’s zero-billing, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Pagcor, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), PhilHealth and the OP.
The eGovernance Team of the province even developed Davao del Norte Malasakit Center Information System (DMCIS) to facilitate faster delivery of free medical services to indigent patients.
