DOH top 3 agency with P155-B budget; more health programs set

Sec Ubial graces Mt Province hospital

By Wabilyn Lomong-oy

BAUKO, Mountain Province – The Dept. of Health budget is bigger than that of Defense and top 3 three in ranking among government agencies with P155 billion fund this year.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial bared this, saying it is expected the amount will increase next year up to P200 billion considering more health programs would be set in place.

Ubial recently visited Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital here for inauguration of dialysis unit and other hospital facilities.

 Ubial recounted transformation of LHMRH from biggest rural health unit to largest clinic and now making efforts to being “North Star“ Premier Medical Center of the country.

The secretary acknowledged teamwork and efforts that had been done as an offshoot of upgrading of different facilities of the hospital.

The secretary congratulated everyone for the big transformation that happened to the hospital saying the administration through Department of Health envisioned providing accessible and affordable quality health care to all the citizens in the country. The department was cited as being resilient and responsive to the needs of every Filipino people as the secretary underscored the Philippine Health Agenda for the 2016-2022 summarized into three aspects: financial protection, better health outcomes and responsiveness.

In response, Rep. Maximo Dalog with local officials and LHMRH staff expressed gratitude to Ubial for attending said event.

Dalog also conveyed his gratitude to President Duterte and to the DOH for giving additional budget of P50 million to finance the second phases of the Regional Drug Rehabilitation Center.

The congressman told the guest Mountain Province was declared drug free.

The added 10 dialysis units that will soon be operational will be of great help to kidney patients in the province because they will not anymore travel to Baguio and Manila just to have their treatment.

Ubial was accompanied by Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle, DOH-CAR Regional Director Lakshmi Legazpi, Dr. Ricardo Runez and staff of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.