Provincial Government targets to open new hospitals and molecular diagnostics laboratories before JCA’s term ends

The Palawan Provincial Government expected that before the end of the term of Gov. Jose Chavez Alvarez in 2022, an additional five (5) new hospitals and six (6) molecular diagnostics laboratories will be opened in the Province.

New Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital (NPPH) in Taytay, Española District Hospital, and Cuyo District Hospital are planned to open this September 2021, the Araceli-Dumaran District Hospital in October this year, while the Balabac District Hospital will be opened in January 2022.

“Hindi na tayo natutulog dito kasi nandito na tayo sa last year ng Alvarez Administration so gusto ni Gov(ernor) na bago mag-end ‘yung term niya matapos talaga’ yung 15 hospitals pero 16 na ito dahil idinagdag na natin ‘yung Española District Hospital”, Engr. Saylito Purisima, Head, Infrastructure Unit/Provincial Engineering Office explained.

According to Provincial Information Office (PIO), Engr. Purisima said that they are still waiting the License to Operate of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL) in Brgy. Irawan, while the construction of other MDLs continues in El Nido, Coron, San Vicente, New NPPH in Taytay, and the Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital (SPPH) in Brooke’s Point.

“I believe the support of the Provincial Government considering sino man ang maging successor niya should commit to sustain these programs kasi napakaimportante itong health programs sa buong lalawigan ng Palawan,” Purisima added.

Aborlan Medicare Hospital, Narra Municipal Hospital, SPPH in Brooke’s Point town, Roxas Medicare Hospital, Dr. Jose Rizal District Hospital, Coron District Hospital, Bataraza District Hospital, San Vicente District Hospital, El Nido Community Hospital, and Quezon Medicare Hospital are already serving the people of Palawan.

Provincial Health Office (PHO) said that indigent patients are ‘enrolled’ under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) and Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program where they are ‘free of charge’ in Provincial Government hospitals.

The said hospitals are jointly funded by the Palawan Provincial Government and the Department of Health (DOH) under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program.