Philippine gov’t OKs law putting up speciality health centers

The health centres will prioritise cancer and cardiovascular care, amongst others.

The Philippine government passed into law the bill seeking to create speciality centres in its hospitals in every region, which prioritises treatment for diseases such as cancer and heart.

Under the legislation, the Department of Health (DOH) will arrange these speciality centres in every Philippine region.

The centres will focus on cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office said other speciality centres include care for orthopaedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose, and throat care.

It requires “DOH to categorize the level of service capability of the speciality centres as National Specialty Centers, Advanced Comprehensive Specialty Centers, and Basic Comprehensive Specialty Centers pursuant to the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.”

“The appropriate level of specialized healthcare provider role in the continuum of care, the availability of competent health human resources for specialized healthcare, and the operational and financial performance of the DOH facilities should also be considered in setting up specialty centres,” read the statement.