DOH Sec. Ona inaugurates new facilities at MMMHospital

BATAC CITY, Feb. 23—The best medical center in Northern Luzon could very well be the best model of the Department of Health slogan “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan” or Universal Health Care with the opening of its new and modern facilities and services.
 No less than Health Secretary Enrique Ona inaugurated the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center’s Pharmacy Building, Out-Patient Department and the Oxygen Generating Plant in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
 The inauguration was in time with the hospital’s 44th foundation anniversary.
 In his speech, Sec. Ona reminded the officials and staff of MMMH&MC of the DOH’s commitment of providing the best universal health care.
 “‘Kalusugan Pangkalahatan’ or Universal Health Care is our commitment to the public. And the best health care is a human right. We are all committed to helping our people,” Ona said.
 The health secretary was all praises for MMMH&MC, its officials and staff, led by Chief of Hospital, Dr Maria Lourdes Otayza, for the services and facilities.
 “I am thoroughly impressed with what I saw here. This is what we, in the Department of Health, would want to show and give to our people. And from what the MMMH&MC is doing, then, ‘Kalusugan Pangkalahatan’ is sure to be provided to our public here,” Ona said.
 The MMMH&MC has put up the first-ever oxygen generating plant in a hospital setting in the country to produce its own required medical oxygen and also sell commercial oxygen to the public and other health facilities. The cost will be cheaper because of onsite production.
 Impressed with the facility of the hospital, Secretary Ona is planning to duplicate this for the hospitals around the East Avenue area in Quezon City.
 Another facility, the new and modern OPD will be a one-stop department where board-accredited multi-subspecialties, laboratory, billing and social services are available. The facility is most conducive to patients seeking proper medical consultations, the number of which has steadily increased from 310 per day in 2006 to 351 per day in 2011.
 The Pharmacy building will cater to OPD/in-patients and to the general public by offering drugs at low prices. The new building will also house additional in-patient private rooms and a BURN unit at the third floor.
 Dr. Otayza vowed that their institution will continue to deliver the best health care, especially to the poor.
The MMMH&MC caters to patients from Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Abra and Ilocos Sur. In the last assessment of the DOH, it has been adjudged as the second-best DOH hospital in the country. (PIA Ilocos Norte)