Philippine Orthopedic Center gets P200-M financial aid from OP

The Office of the President (OP) has provided P200 million worth of financial assistance to the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC).

This is in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s goal of developing specialty centers across the country and prioritizing the healthcare sector.

According to POC Medical Center chief Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr., the financial aid from the OP would help in sustaining the operations of the country’s prime orthopedic center, especially amid the upsurge in the cases of injuries in the country.

“Our hospital kasi was designated as a national specialty center in orthopedics. That means that it’s an apex center. It’s an apex hospital, and for us to qualify, our equipment have – they have to become modern and ‘yung medyo state-of-the-art. So that’s where we’re going, in that direction because right now, the Universal Healthcare is being implemented,” Pujalte said in a press release on Wednesday.

“And, during the SONA of President Marcos last July, he specifically mentioned the development of specialty centers and included (in) that, of course, (are) orthopedics, bolts, and joints,” he added.

Pujalte also mentioned that the cash assistance would also help in their efforts to modernize the POC by procuring hospital facilities and equipment.

Marcos had said the establishment of new healthcare centers across the country is part of the government‘s efforts to advance quality healthcare.

Marcos earlier signed into law a measure that aims to institutionalize the establishment of specialty and healthcare centers across the country.

He signed Republic Act No. 11959 — or An Act Establishing Specialty Centers in Department of Health Hospitals in Every Region and in Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporation [GOCC] Specialty Hospitals and Appropriating Funds Therefor — on August 24, 2023.

Under the law, the Department of Health is tasked to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in GOCC specialty hospitals. —KG, GMA Integrated News