By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Noting the advancement of technology, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa on Wednesday said it’s time to digitize and modernize the country’s health system.
The DOH chief said that it’s time that the health department modernizes primary care as he aimed to build 28 primary care facilities that will serve the 28 million Filipinos’ health concerns by 2028.
“We need to digitize our records, we need to digitize. Meron na ngang X-ray ngayon with AI. We just need to use the current technology. Pati yung cellphone, ihaharap lang sa mukha, makukuha ang BP, respiratory rate etc. Even primary care dapat digital. Yung mga areas na walang doctor, I can connect them to a doctor in the regional hospital for telemedicine,” Herbosa quipped.
Also included in Herbosa’s priority goals are the National Immunization Program; Nutrition Program; Child and Maternal Health Programs; Tuberculosis Programs; Road Safety Programs; Non-communicable diseases with emphasis on hypertension and diabetes and; Cancer Programs.
At the same time, Herbosa said he wanted to modernize its asset management system to make procurement and delivery of essential drugs, medicines, and vaccines even more efficient, especially during times of health emergencies.
He made the statement in light of reported expired medicines worth around P1 million in a rural health unit in the town of Bacacay, Albay in the Bicol region.
“I want to modernize from procurement all the way to delivery. Kailangan makadating siya doon sa nangangailangan at yung bakuna, ay hindi mabulok doon sa refrigerator at mai-inject,” Herbosa said.
The DOH chief expressed disgust over the incident and vowed to conduct a review on the procurement and distribution of medicines at the local level.
(el Amigo/MNM)
