After the Department of Health re-issued its license to operate as a primary care facility and birthing home, the Vintar District Hospital in Ilocos Norte has been given the green light to operate round the clock, the municipal government confirmed on Wednesday.
“Starting Feb. 10, 2025, from Monday to Sundays, the Vintar District Hospital will be offering round-the-clock services to patients,” Mayor Richard Degala said in a media interview, as he thanked the provincial government and healthcare workers “for ensuring accessible healthcare for all.”
Since the end of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ilocos Norte government has been expanding its healthcare infrastructure to increase the capacities of all government-managed hospitals in the province.
This includes the repair of several fixtures at the Vintar District Hospital, which has been upgraded into a five-bed capacity, in addition to hiring at least two doctors, three nurses, and one utility worker to cater to patients, particularly in the far-flung villages of Surong Valley, Magabobo, and Salsalamagi.
With Vintar District Hospital now a fully licensed and accredited birthing facility, pregnant mothers no longer need to travel far to avail of maternal and healthcare services.
“After waiting for how many years, finally, we have a functional health facility to go to anytime,” said Arlene Villanueva, a resident of Surong Valley.
Villanueva said healthcare access is a challenge when you live in a remote area, more so when you have no emergency fund to rely on.
The Ilocos Norte government and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) are also in the process of accrediting all rural health facilities here as primary healthcare providers.
Once accredited as a PhilHealth-Konsulta facility, people will no longer be afraid to see a doctor because the outpatient package includes consultation, laboratory examinations, and drugs and medicines with prescriptions that are free for members and their dependents, provided they register and avail of it in a government hospital-provider or a personal co-pay of PHP500 in a private provider.
(PNA)