To reach such huge responsibility, the provincial government joined forces with directly concerned government agencies, the private sector, and communities.
“To provide better health service to our people requires a collaborative approach we need our local leaders in the municipalities, barangays, development partners, healthcare professionals, communities, and our stakeholders said Governor Emmylou "Lala" Taliño-Mendoza in her State of the Province Address (SOPA) on April 2 at the Provincial Capitol, Amas, Kidapawan City.
The Department of Health (DOH) she said is one of the province’s active partners in the implementation of its health facility enhancement program through the establishment of medical facilities like the Super Health Center (SHC) and Rural Health Units as well as the upgrading of government hospitals in the entire province.
Mendoza said with the financial aid of P126 million from DOH, the province has constructed 12 SHCs. The SHC she added is aimed to reach out to Cotabateños in need of medical assistance and to avoid overcrowding of patients in the province’s government hospitals. There are eight government hospitals across North Cotabato’s 17 municipalities and the component city of Kidapawan.
Mendoza announced that in 2023, three SHCs were formally turned-over to the constituents of Barangay Kalaisan of Kidapawan City, Barangay Poblacion of Libungan, and Barangay Poblacion of Banisilan. Another three SHCs were recently completed and due for turnover while two are substantially completed and the rest are 50 percent to 75 percent completed. “Dito (SHCs) maaari nang maisagawa angmalalimang pagsusuri ng mga sakit at maibigay ang mabilisan at paunang lunas oprimary care sa mga pasyente (Deep analysis of the illnesses of the patients can be done here in the SHCs and primary care can be speedily given to the patients),” she said.
Aside from the SHC, two Rural Health Centers (RHUs) were built in the municipalities of Arakan and Libungan using the P28.5 million fund from DOH and administered by the province.
Additionally, Mendoza said two DOH-funded medical health facilities will be constructed in the province. These are the P30 million two-story USM Hemodialysis at the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato, and the P500 million Upgrading of Cotabato Provincial Hospital.
Aside from DOH, standing side by side with the Cotabato provincial government is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the construction of Banisilan District Hospital in Barangay Wadja, Banisilan, Cotabato.
To provide better and faster health service to the people, Mendoza said, the province also intensified its One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) which is effective and systematic in giving medical attention and intervention, especially in times of emergencies.
Frontline workers of the OHCC include representatives from private and public hospitals, rural health units, disaster risk response offices, and 911.
Located inside the Cotabato Provincial Hospital, OHCC has a one-call-center sub-office where patients or their families communicate to get medical needs and services.
The OHCC will be the one to coordinate with public and private hospitals for faster referrals lessening the waiting time for patients.
Mendoza said OHCC has recorded up to 4,985 referrals including Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.
To sustain the provision of quality health care, the province 2023 has allocated P316 million for the eight hospitals’ Maintenance Operating, and Other Expenses (MOOE) of which P283 million was already utilized, Mendoza said.
In 2023, these hospitals recorded a total of 44,900 inpatients and 110,000 outpatients including from Kidapawan City. Under the “no balance billing policy”, the province covered excess payments of the patients using the P55 million medical assistance to indigent patients (MAIP) fund, P20 million from Ayudang Medikal mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG), and P248 million from the provincial government grant for its Tulay ng Kapayapaan Program for medical assistance particularly intended for indigent patients, Mendoza said.
Mendoza further mentioned some of the provincial government’s allocation to address various health concerns in the province.
These allocations include P12 million for mental health, P7.8million for the establishment of dialysis unit in Cotabato Provincial Hospital, P10 million for HIV intervention and awareness (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), P9.3 million for anti-rabies program, P14.9 million medicines for patients of outreach program, P2 M three months nutrients supplementation for underweight children and P161,000 for mass feeding, P5.4 million oral health program including giving full denture for senior citizens and oral health kits for children, P20 million for COVID mobile vaccination, and P1.2 million toilet bowls.
Mendoza also cited the significant role of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) in the province’s Health for All program.
Hence, she said, to thank them for their efforts, the provincial government allocated P52 million in financial support to 2,943 BHWs and 700 BNSs.
WORKING GOVERNOR. A day after her State of the Province Address on April 2, Cotabato Province Governor Emmylou "Lala" J. Taliño-Mendoza buckles down to work at the Provincial Capitol in Amas, Kidapawan City. Photo Cotabato Province FB Page
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