Dr. Edgardo Sandig, provincial health officer, said the funds were part of the P105-million budget earlier approved by EC and the Department of Health for the implementation of the five-year program.
Under the program, the province will receive some P45.26 million or 43 percent of the total health investments this year, P19.85 or 19 percent in 2008, P31.45 or 30 percent in 2009 and P8.47 or 8 percent in 2010.
Sandig said investment covers P60.94 million for buildings and other structures; P10 million for machineries and equipment; P12.76 million for consultancy and training; P3.1 million for consultancy studies and technical assistance; P14.847 for repair and maintenance; and, P3.34 million for supplies.
He said this year’s initiatives will focus on the upgrading and renovation of the facilities the province’s rural health units and main health centers and the delivery of required equipment and tools.
Sandig said the provincial government, which supervises the program’s implementation, will provide office spaces, furniture and fixtures and conduct capability building activities and trainings for local health workers.
The FOURmula One for Health Program is anchored on ensuring access to basic health services of the marginalized poor, vulnerable groups and the women and children, a program briefer said.
This goal is part of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.
The program’s components include the strengthening of support systems for the delivery of services through the rationalization of health delivery set-up; provision of equitable access among the people to health facilities; internalization of the two-way referral system; strengthening of the primary hospitals’ capability in providing emergency obstetric care; and, the accreditation of the hospitals and rural health units with PhilHealth.
In terms of governance, the program will help rationalize the delivery of local health services in the established Local Area Health Zones.
Under the financing aspect, the initiatives will focus on the improvement of access of the marginalized population to affordable health services.
The regulatory activities will focus on ensuring the availability of affordable and quality drugs and medicines at affordable prices in all government health facilities.(Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)