For 2020, 21 percent of the total budget will be allotted for health services. Here in Pasig, we are serious in the National Government’s program on Universal Health Care. We are hopeful that we will be one of those who will be the first to implement it. But of course, we couldn’t do it alone. We need the help of DOH. We need the help of PhilHealth. We are very thankful since so far, we have a good relationship with them.]
This is what Mayor Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto, famously known as Vico Sotto’s health plan is- to make Pasig City a pioneer in the UHC implementation. He emphasized that when it comes to UHC, one of the things that should be strengthened are the barangay health centers, hence, rehabilitating their facilities and providing more medical supplies and medicines is one of his priorities.
“Alam naman po natin na pagdating sa UHC, ang isa sa mahalagang dapat palakasin natin ay ‘yung primary health care units namely barangay health centers. Napakahalaga na malakas ito kasi hindi kayang saluhin ng mga ospital lahat eh. Kailangan sa health centers malakas na so isa po sa mga prayoridad namin noong unang isandaang araw ay tingnan ‘yung mga health centers natin. Tingnan kung paano siya mai-improve. At isang nakita namin kaagad ay ‘yung delivery ng mga gamot binago namin ang sistema para direkta ang delivery at automatic na siya. Hindi ‘yung pupunta dito minsan mali-mali ‘yung request so inayos namin ‘yung sistema ng delivery.” [We all know that when it comes to UHC, one of the most important things to be strengthened are the primary care units namely barangay health centers. This is very important since the hospital cannot provide services to everyone. We need to strengthen the health centers, hence one of our priorities in our 100 days is to look at our health centers and see how it can be improved. And one of the things that we improved is the system in the delivery of medicines. Hence it is now direct and automatic.]
According to the mayor, the city budget for medical supplies for 2020 is three times larger than in 2019. He also believes that public hospitals in the city should focus more on service delivery rather than income generation.
Increasing Pasig City’s budget for health would also fund the expansion of PhilHealth membership for the city’s marginalized sectors. “Malaki ‘yung effort namin para makaseguro na lahat ay maging sakop na ng PhilHealth. Medyo marami pa ring Pasiguenos ang hindi pa covered ng PhilHealth. Tinitingnan natin kung sino ba ang pinaka-vulnerable sa komunidad natin. Isa sa na-identify namin ay ‘yung mga tricycle drivers natin. Kaya noong first 100 days natin, nakapagbaba kami ng free registration for 2020 coverage. Tatlong libong miyembro ng TODA ang nakapag-free register na. ‘Yung numero na ‘yan aabot ng 15,000. Para sa 2020, buong taon mayroon silang PhilHealth coverage.”
His administration hopes to invest P36.8 million for PhilHealth membership per year, starting with 11,000 tricycle drivers, and a total of P772.7 million for medicines and supplies in 2020.
The youngest chief executive in the country calls on his fellow Pasigueños to cooperate in the realization of UHC. “Tuloy-tuloy po tayong magtulungan tungo sa Universal Health Care. Suportahan po natin ang programa ng Department of Health, programa ng PhilHealth at programa ng ating nasyonal na gobyerno para po sa serbisyo na abot kamay at abot-kaya ng bawat isang Filipino.”
With Mayor Sotto at the helm, hope is undeniably flowing in Pasig City, which is aligned with their new tagline Lungsod ng Pasig: “Umaagos ang Pag-asa.”
