Capitol, VSMMC sign MOA for health program

CEBU, Philippines- In line with the thrust to improve delivery of health services, the Cebu provincial government and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center  inked yesterday an agreement to ensure easy access and availability of medicines in province-run hospitals.

Provincial Board Member Peter John Calderon, chairman of the committee on health, said the agreement is part of the province’ hospital modernization program.

Under the agreement, the Capitol and VSMMC will formulate plans and policies for the implementation of the Cebu Medicine Consignment System, which was legislated in August last year.

The scheme provides an agency-to-agency procurement of drugs and medical supplies to ensure their availability in all hospitals operated by the provincial government.

As part of the process, the Capitol will procure drugs and medical supplies requested by the provincial and district hospitals.

VSCMMC, a Department of Health-retained medical center, through the “Botika ng Bayan,” will then make them available within seven days upon the receipt of purchase order.

The Capitol will make payments within 30 days following the receipt and inventory of the supplies.

“Before, we followed direct procurement. Magpa-bidding ta sa mga medicine, ipanghatag sa mga hospitals, unya kung ma-expire na ang uban, bayran ra man gihapon. Sa consignment, bayran ra man nato kung unsa ang naggamit, then i-uli nato ang ma-expire na,” Calderon said.

Further, hospital personnel such as physicians, dentists, nurses, medical technologists, midwives, among others, will also be given the opportunity to undergo training.

“At the same time, Vicente Sotto (hospital) personnel will be sent to augment our medical staff,” Calderon told reporters.

The parties also agreed to conduct medical-surgical-dental missions for marginalized and “geographically isolated and depressed areas.”

The agreement will run for five years.

Meanwhile, another agreement was also entered into by DOH-7, VSMMC, and the provincial government for the implementation of the “Kapit Bisig para sa Kalusugang Pankalahatan.”

The program provides surgical preparedness and services, medical consultations, and community advocacy lectures by DOH in partnership with the local government units.

The MOA was signed by VSMMC chief Gerardo Aquino Jr., DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas, and Board Member Calderon, who acted on behalf of Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.  (FREEMAN)