The provincial government on Thursday launched the first ever Preventive Health Management System (PHMS) in the province, which initially benefitted 1,500 indigent patients in different barangays in 2nd district towns.
Hosted by Lubao local government unit led by Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab, the PHMS is patterned after the Cuban Health Care System that focuses on prevention rather than cure.
According to DOH 3 director Dr. Leonita Gorgolon, Pampanga is the first province to implement PHMS which is similar to the Cuban Healthcare System now carried out by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“President Duterte gave a directive to give medical assistance to the marginalized sector. Pampanga is the first province to follow that mandate,” Gorgolon said.
Second District Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that with the system, health workers will be the one to bring medical assistance to the barangay folk.
Meanwhile, Lubao Mayor Cayabyab urged everyone to avail the provincial government’s PHMS program and use their PhilHealth or ask for point of care for non-PhilHealth members.
In an interview with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jay Rivera after the kick off of PHMS, they will start to go to 501 barangays all over the province to deliver free health services to Kapampangans.
Rivera added they will use four mobile clinics which offers breast and cervical examinations, surgical, XRay, ECG, cataract, pathology among others.
He also noted that Governor Pineda created women’s health unit responsible on the reproductive health of Kapampangan women.
“Pampanga is the first to establish PHMS which is tailor fit with President Rodrigo Duterte’s advocacy in the delivery of health services to people.To those who want to avail our free services we tapped our rural health units and municipal health offices which the patients could coordinate for our schedules in their barangays or town,” Rivera furthered.
The PHMS launch was highlighted by a medical mission conducted by the provincial health officer who brought mobile medical and diagnostic clinics aimed at bringing medical services closer to the people.
Gov. Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda along with Arroyo, Gorgolon and Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab led the launching at the Lubao Gymnasium.
Doctors and nurses from the 11 district and provincial hospitals, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH), and private practitioners participated in the said medical mission.
Services available in the PMHS launch cum medical mission ranged from ophthalmology, hearing, cervical, breast examination, dental, ECG, hematology, chest x-ray, surgical and medical.
Aside from the consultations, the attendees were also given free medicines and a pack of groceries.