President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday threatened to sack Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial if she fails to reform the procurement process involving much-needed medical equipment for soldiers in battle.
“And would you believe it, this government, I don’t know, things are still the same. They told me [that the medical equipment] just hurdled bidding [stage.] That’s why I told Ubial, “Do it in 60 days, or do it this month. If you cannot change the procedure, I will replace you. Secretary Ubial herself,” Duterte said in a speech at Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
“I can’t… Don’t give me that s*** about a bidding process. Eh kung wala namang magnanakaw diyan sumasali, bakit patagalin niyo nang ganun? Sabi ko, “Change the procedure or I will change you.”
Last August 2016, Duterte himself promised soldiers that around P500 million will soon be released for “state-of-the-art” military equipment and a new building for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center, equipped with more medical equipment like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT Scan, and equipment for surgical operations.
In a speech last Wednesday, Duterte vented his ire over the slow pace of government procurement, but only called for the Health secretary to finish the construction of government hospitals.
Duterte then tried to seek for answers from Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go on his vow for a “state-of-the-art” military equipment and a new building for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center, only to get a response from AFP chief Eduardo Año that the procurement process just hurdled the “bidding” stage.
“I hope they can do it this month. I directed Ubial, to finish it in the month of July because this is how the government works. I won’t be puzzled if you’re mad because you don’t have equipment,” the President said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management announced the release of a total of P9.18 billion for the purchase of various medical equipment, allowing DoH hospitals to provide better services in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
DoH hospitals will receive equipment used for, but not limited to, cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as Cyclotron and PET CT-Scan, Linac CT-Stimulator, CT-Scan, MRI, Hemodialysis, Cryotherapy, and Colposcope.
The ARMM LGU Hospitals have also been allocated around P65.9 million to cover the construction of infrastructure and purchase of various medical equipment.
Meanwhile, DoH Cancer Centers will have equipment used for diagnosis, such as Cyclotron and PET CT-Scans, SPEC-CT plus Hot Lab units, Mammography units, and Ultrasound Scanners, and equipment used for cancer treatment, such Linear Accelerators and Brachytherapy units.
SPEC-CT and Cyclotron and PET CT-Scans are imaging techniques that show how organs work, more advanced than the usual MRI and CT Scans that only show how structures in the body look.
Linear accelerators are used for external beam therapy, wherein customized high energy x-rays conforming to a tumor’s shape are produced for destroying cancer cells while avoiding damaging surrounding normal tissue. Brachytherapy units are used for internal beam therapy, wherein a protected radiation source is placed directly within or near the tumor site. In both instances, radiation is focused on the tumor without damaging healthy tissues. Hence, treatment outcomes are significantly improved compared to other treatment modalities for cancer.
These purchases are part of the Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program aimed at “upgrading of health facilities as well as providing training to health professionals to improve the access of people to quality health care.”