DOH launches program to make hospitals clean, orderly

MANILA, Philippines - Health Secretary Enrique Ona launched yesterday a program to make state hospitals clean and orderly.

“The poor status of cleanliness and orderliness of hospitals has always been a source of complaints among patients and caregivers,” he said.

“Hospitals should be centers of wellness and not of sickness, hence, the need to maintain always a clean environment.”

The program is dubbed “Ospital ng PiNOY: Malinis at Mabango.”

Ona said it doesn’t mean that because state hospitals lack the budget the DOH would not clean them for the benefit of patients.

“We have to work within the context of limited budget,” he said.

Ona dared state hospital officials to maintain the highest degree of hygiene in their work environment.

“Unclean, unkempt and smelly hospital premises pose a health risk to patients, their companions and health workers,” he said. “Oftentimes, this also causes the negative perception of the people on public hospitals.”

Under the program, the DOH will partner with the private sector to help improve the conditions of state hospitals. 

Of 1,781 hospitals nationwide, 701 are government owned, including the 72 hospitals being run by the government.

Hospitals will be instructed to maintain cleanliness and orderliness in their premises, including driveways and parking areas, at all times.

The DOH intends to create a team that will conduct random spot checks of all hospitals to determine compliance.

Ona said the program also covers the work attitude of doctors, nurses and other health personnel.

Those found incompetent in attending to patients and their families would undergo re-training, he added.

PhilHealth to hold registration

A nationwide registration for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will be held on Sept. 18 to ensure health insurance for indigent Filipinos.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said qualified to register are those identified as “true indigents” in the National House Targeting System-Proxy Means Test (NHTS-PMS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“In keeping with P-Noy’s promise to give each and every Filipino access to quality healthcare in three years, your PhilHealth will open its doors across the country to reach out to the very poor identified through the NHTS-PMT,” he said.

Ona said an estimated 4.7 million poor families are included in the NHTS-PMS which has not yet officially been released by the DSWD.

“State-run health insurance program was made a top priority item (in the Aquino administration which is aiming) a 100 percent coverage (for PhilHealth),” he said.

Under the plan, PhilHealth desks will be set up in public schools, municipal halls and all of the 72 hospitals operated by the DOH nationwide for the “P-Noy PhilHealth Day” on Sept. 18.

Ona said the NHTS-PMT database might be posted in the registration booths and barangay halls to enable one to know if he or she is qualified to register.

“We are also tapping other means such as online registration via our website; via texting using their cell phones; in malls and other commercial centers; and through our partners such as local government units, government hospitals and colleges and universities to ensure that they will be able to register with ease and convenience,” he said.

After registration, applicants do not have to pay the P1,200 annual premium fee for PhilHealth membership, he added.

Ona said the government would be shouldering the premium payment or they would look for private sector that could sponsor membership fees.

“I encourage all Filipinos, especially PhilHealth non-members, to go out and avail of this opportunity to be registered with PhilHealth and secure financial protection that they will need in times of emergencies and medical situations in the family,” he said.