Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani health officer (File photo courtesy of Sarangani PIO)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Health authorities in Sarangani have fast-tracked the upgrading of its provincial hospital in Alabel town into a Level 1 facility.
Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani health officer, said the local government is currently processing the necessary requirements with the Department of Health (DOH) to facilitate the elevation of the hospital classification from primary care to Level 1.
“A certificate of need has already been issued, which is the first requirement to become a Level 1 hospital,” he said in a statement.
The provincial hospital, which is temporarily known as the Sarangani Health Care Facility, has undergone major expansions in the last two years, especially in terms of bed capacity, laboratory, and other vital services.
It currently operates an isolation and treatment facility for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.
The province already has three Level 1 hospitals situated in Malungon, Glan, and Kiamba towns that are duly approved to serve as Covid-19 facilities.
Alejandro said the provincial hospital received some PHP25 million worth of additional equipment late last month from the DOH in line with the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law.
He said it is part of the PHP95-million equipment package recently released by the national government to the province, which is a pilot area for the rollout of the UHC law.
The new equipment comprised X-ray machines, ultrasound and ventilator machines, a brand-new ambulance, and operating tables.
Alejandro said they will immediately utilize the new equipment following the completion of their installation, and the necessary training and orientation.
“We expect that these will drive the medical staff to (improve) their service to the people,” he said.
Aside from the provincial hospital, the Glan Medicare Community Hospital in Glan and the Dr. Cornelio T. Martinez Sr. Memorial Hospital in Kiamba each received some PHP20 million worth of equipment.
The Maasim Municipal Hospital got PHP14.5 million worth of equipment, followed by the Malungon Municipal Hospital with PHP10 million and Maitum Municipal Hospital with PHP6 million. (PNA)
