ANGELES CITY — The Puso Center Rural Health Unit VI in Barangay Pulung Cacutud here is now accredited as a ‘Primary Health Clinic’ by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), expanding its free and accessible services to Angeleños.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. gladly shared this milestone, emphasizing the expanded coverage of primary health services now available at the Puso Center RHU VI.
“This is only the beginning of our aim to convert all the RHUs into Puso Centers, extending health programs and services, and to be granted accreditation from PhilHealth,” Lazatin said.
“We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the PhilHealth for granting us the accreditation,” Lazatin added.
According to the resident physician of the newly accredited clinic, Dr. Cristine Joy Patio, among the health services being extended in the Puso Center RHU VI include initial and follow-up primary care consultations, preventive health screening and assessment and access to selected diagnostic services, and medicines through the PhilHealth Konsulta or Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama.
“Ang mandato po natin ay kailangang mabigyan ng halaga ang preventive care, at kung kinakailangan ay agarang makatanggap ng sapat na treatment. Kailangan din natin silang mabigyan ng sapat na kaalaman sa [kanilang] kalusugan,” Dr. Patio explained.
City Health Officer Dr. Verona Guevarra further said that with this accreditation, there are benefits, services, and opportunities for primary care services being offered, also mentioning the pre-natal check-up, family planning, immunization, TB DOTS, and the assistance to access health services from partner facility Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center, formerly known as Ospital Ning Angeles.
Dr. Guevarra assured that the city’s health care workers are to provide patient-centered and quality health services to Angeleños, also citing the improved facility and medical equipment, functional health information system, and the updated training of health workers.
Initially, the Puso Center RHU VI only had 24/7 birthing clinic and dental clinic, which was formally opened on July 2022.
To recall, Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel with City Engineer Donato Dizon have all been instrumental in the full renovation of the Puso Center RHU VI and its prompt accreditation.
The newly accredited health facility in Pulung Cacutud, which can accommodate residents from four barangays including Pulung Cacutud, Pulung Maragul, Cutud, and Sapalibutad, is the second Puso Center established during the stint of Mayor Lazatin. The first Puso Center is located at the 2nd floor of the City Hall building, a three-in-one clinic offering services for animal bite treatment, dental care, minor surgery, as well as free consultation.
The delivery of health services is one of the flagship programs of Mayor Lazatin, just like his father, Cong. Carmelo ‘Tarzan’ Lazatin, who championed free and accessible health services in Angeles City and in the first district of Pampanga.