LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Health leaders of Sorsogon province, led by their Provincial Health Officer Edgar F. Garcia Jr., want to replicate the best practices in health leadership of the provincial government of Pangasinan.
In a recent visit here, the Sorsogon delegation was received by Gov. Amado I. Espino III and several provincial officials, who attested to the drastic development that Pangasinan realized under the watch of former governor and current fifth district Rep. Amado T. Espino Jr.
Governor Espino, who met the Sorsogon delegation at the Urduja House, said Pangasinan has allocated 30 percent of its provincial budget for hospital operations, construction and maintenance of hospital facilities, procurement of state-of-the-art hospital equipment, and various health programs.
The “lakbay aral” of the Sorsogon delegation explored Pangasinan’s excellent implementation of its Point of Care program, the Public-Private Partnership scheme in securing medical equipment and diagnostic machines for public hospitals, and the service delivery network of the province.
Thanking their hosts for the warm reception, Dr. Garcia said their study tour was meant for the leaders of the Sorsogon Provincial Health Office and representatives of their Association of Municipal/City Health Officers or AM/CHOP, to learn best practices they can adopt in their respective areas.
Provincial Health Officer Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman said Pangasinan has been recognized for its well-coordinated service delivery network which is highly need in emergency cases.
Touring the Provincial Health Office of Pangasinan, the Sorsogon team also inquired on the preparations done and requirements complied by the local office to gain its ISO 9001 certification.
The Sorsogon health team also visited the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in Bolingit, San Carlos City, Bayambang District Hospital, and the Rural Health Unit managed by the Local Government Unit of Alcala, named as Pangasinan’s best municipal LGU on health programs implementation for 2016.