The Province of Negros Oriental is embarking on a novel approach in the delivery of medical care to its constituents. This approach, called the Mobile Doctors Program, will take doctors to the district hospitals where they will treat patients from far-flung communities.
This program will address several problems in the delivery of health care in the province. First, we have too many patients at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. This hospital, which was built for 250 patients, has over 350 patients on any given day. One reason why there are too many patients in our government hospital, aside from the fact that we also accept patients from southern Cebu, Siquijor and even in communities in Zamboanga del Norte, is that we also lack doctors in the rural areas.
Aside from decongesting the Provincial Hospital, the patients can also save money by not having to come to Dumaguete for treatment.
The Province of Negros Oriental, back in the early ‘90s, won the Galing Pook Award for setting up primary hospitals in the mountains. This was a first, not only in Negros Oriental but also in the entire country and this has now been replicated by other provinces.
The Mobile Doctors Program is another innovation that will set a a trend in the entire country. Perhaps, this could be our entry for the next Galing Pook award!