SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, commended the significant expansion of Super Health Centers in the Philippines and appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the proper implementation and the judicious use of funds that were allocated for their establishment.

The expansion includes the funding of 132 new Super Health Centers this year as part of the General Appropriations Act of 2024 which Go pushed for during the Senate budget deliberations as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance. This number adds to the 307 and 322 already funded in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

“Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya,” Go stated, reaffirming his commitment to healthcare improvement.

“Ang apela ko lang sa DOH, siguraduhin na magamit ang pondo nang tama at hindi masayang. Ipinaglaban nating mapondohan ang pagpapatayo ng Super Health Centers sa iba’t ibang sulok ng bansa. Sana naman ay maimplementa ito nang maayos at sa lalong madaling panahon para mapakinabangan ng mga mahihirap. Para sa kanila ito,” Go reminded DOH.

“Ilapit natin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa kanila lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan. Tandaan natin na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Karapatan nila na makakuha ng serbisyong medikal mula sa gobyerno upang mapangalagaan ang kanilang buhay,” he further appealed.

Go highlighted the vital role Super Health Centers play in providing primary healthcare, medical consultation, and early disease detection in the grassroots, thereby fortifying the country’s healthcare infrastructure. The DOH is the primary agency responsible for identifying strategic locations for these centers and ensuring they meet the needs of the community.

“Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he added.

According to Go, these Super Health Centers are a testament to his ongoing efforts to bringing healthcare closer to Filipinos in need especially in the community level. He emphasized the importance of these centers in reducing hospital occupancy and providing accessible medical services to the grassroots.

The senator also cited that free consultations at these centers would be facilitated through collaborations between municipal health offices, local government units, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, under its Konsulta program.

The Super Health Centers are equipped to provide a range of services, including database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation wards, diagnostics (such as x-rays and ultrasounds), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical units. They also offer specialized services in EENT, oncology, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and telemedicine.

This expansion represents a significant step in enhancing healthcare accessibility in the Philippines, particularly in rural areas, and is a testament to the government’s commitment to improving the nation’s health services.

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