The Official News Bulletin of the Center for Health Development IV-B (MIMAROPA)

HEMS at the Luzon Zonal Meetings Helm

Dissecting the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Studys framework for localized emergency responses

Putting all health emergency management acts at the rudder, the delegates, on its second day of the 1st Luzon Zonal Meeting 2011, clutched on their thinking hats to orchestrate localized emergency responses and plans towards risk reduction.
Mr. Ishmael Narag, OIC of the Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, provided the comprehensive explanation of the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, PHIVOLCS and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) indicating that the region is exposed to high risk from a strong-magnitude earthquake. This has urged local government units and instrumentalities of government with the private sector to enhance their respective capacities to prevent, prepare for and respond effectively to disaster situations. Strengthening Sub-national Community Preparedness The delegates, divided into different workshop groups, attempted to address the existing divergence in the disaster risk reduction and management system being implemented and opted to learn from past experiences to determine a more inclusive engagement within the local players in the health sector and beyond. Director Carmencita Banatin of the Health Emergency Management Staff presented the existing concerns in the process. Director Banatin emphasized that strengthening community preparedness is critical in the process, together with addressing gaps in health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans including command and control, establishment of operation centers, information and data management, assessment of hospitals and facilities, identification of CHDs capacity to respond to disasters, volunteer management, support from nearby CHDs, logistics management and financial requirements, human resource development, closure of hospitals during disaster and public health needs such as management of trauma and burns. On the other hand, Dr. Estrella Gonzaga of De la Salle University - Cavite, facilitated the halfday workshop together with Director Irma Asuncion of CHD - NCR and Dr. Edmundo Lopez of Las Pias General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center who presented vulnerabilities and capacity preparedness to MMEIRS Impact and Metro Manila Hospital Preparedness to MMEIRS, respectively.

April 29, 2011 * Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

April 29, 2011 * Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Isla MIMAROPA

The 1st Luzon Zonal Meeting Edition

Kalusugan sa mga Isla, Kayamanan ng MIMAROPA

Medical Tourism: Choice determines the destiny

Asec. Elmer Punzalan accentuates that the future of medical tourism is so vast, it only takes willpower to realize it

In response to the skyrocketing trend in global medical tourism and improving medical skills, technology and facilities in the Philippines, Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan of the Office of Special Concerns highlighted the countrys comparative advantage in medical travel, health and wellness tourism in the 1st Luzon Zonal Meeting, April 28.
Asec Punzalan said that the Filipinos are well-trained, highly-skilled, competent, compassionate, caring, fluent in English and has extensive training not only in the Philippines. As the lead agency in the Philippine Medical Tourism Program, it would take a lot of willpower to place the country in the medical tourism map through the four C Strategies for Global Quality Healthcare, Patient Safety, and International Medical Travel Services, namely Competitiveness, Collaboration, Capacity Building and Advocacy and Continuity. Numerous hospitals have started their own roadmaps towards it and as espoused by Asec. Punzalan, there is a need for identifying new players and expanding qualified health facilities for global healthcare, supporting private sector development for international accreditation, collaborating with non-government organizations, academe, professional organizations, media partners and other stakeholders, building the capacity of CHDs on International Media Travel and Wellness Services activities, utilizing the Inter-Local Health Zone approach and private-public sector partnerships models. Asec. Punzalan also extended the importance of a transition from a medical tourism program into one that highlights quality healthcare and patient safety standards for all with emphasis on globally competitive healthcare facilities, human resources for health and health services.

Clustering for a more responsive health care delivery network

The Davao Integrated Development Plan experience

Utilizing a working LGU cluster like DIDP in the implementation of projects can greatly enhance the achievement of the project outputs.
This was coined in a nutshell by Assistant Secretary Romulo Busuego to the success of the Davao Integrated Development Plan which is tantamount to the clustering approach adopted by the Department of Health for the implementation of the Aquino Health Agenda. Since the development of DIDP 16 years ago, it has contributed to significant strides in the health sector especially with the wider role given to local government units, which gave LGUs a stronger sense of ownership and accountability resulting to better project sustainaibility. Since the DOH is intimately a member of the board, this will ensure appropriate implementation and validation of the budget infused to the local government for the health programs, affirmed by Asec. Busuego.

The ISLA MiMaRoPa serves as a communication tool for the region in response to the call for an effective, efficient and equitable health system through responsible information dissemination.