In line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to build more specialty hospitals in the country to bring specialty care services closer to the people, the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with local government units, ramped up its efforts to capacitate the different regional and local hospitals and healthcare facilities. Today, October 19, 2022, Health Officer-in-Charge visited Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center (BRGHGMC),  Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), and Bicol Medical Center’s (BMC) 14 Specialty Centers that cater to different medical needs of the region. 

The establishment of the Specialty Centers is aligned with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020-2040 which provides a clear investment roadmap and allocation framework for building healthcare facilities throughout the country based on the current and projected burden of diseases and the needs of the population. The PHFDP aims to promote efficiency and equity, as well as provide a service delivery model that is aligned with the Universal Health Care Act.

“The provision of specialty healthcare services through more specialty centers is part of Universal Health Care’s promise to make healthcare services more accessible to every Juan and Juana, no matter where they are in the country. Alam natin na dagdag pasanin sa bulsa ng ating mga kababayan ang dumayo sa malalayong syudad para makapagpagamot, kaya nagpapatayo tayo ng karagdagang Specialty Centers sa mga lokalidad at nagsusulong ng primary care services.” said the Health OIC.

From 2021, six (6) specialty centers namely Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for cancer; and Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), Batangas Medical Center (BMC), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), and SPMC for neonatal services, were completed, increasing the total number of functional specialty centers in the country to 46. By 2025, the DOH targets to designate 329 specialty centers to increase access to Filipinos.

To this end, the DOH proposed a budget allocation of PhP 2.52 Billion for 2023, as well as included a budget appeal for PhP 2.34 Billion capital outlay for the establishment of specialty centers in the country.

“Nakita natin sa COVID-19 na posible nating ipaabot sa ating mga kababayan ang serbisyong pangkalusugan saan man sila basta’t maglalaan tayo ng investments ayon sa klarong infrastructure development plan–ganito ang ginawa natin sa mga TTMFs. To further protect Filipinos from health risks and financial burden, makakaasa kayo na ang DOH ay patuloy na makikipagtulungan sa mga ahensya, mambabatas, pribadong sektor, at ibang stakeholders upang makapagpatayo ng mas maraming specialty care centers sa lahat rehiyon sa bansa at makabuo ng isang healthcare system that provides comprehensive and holistic healthcare services for all,” expressed the Health OIC.