DOH – Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco and Ilocos Norte Provincial Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc lead the lowering of the time capsule for the P75 million three-story clinical laboratory building at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) amidst the heavy rainfall during the groundbreaking ceremony held on September 12, 2023 in Laoag City.
The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region formally turned over the funds for the construction and establishment of the P75 million three-story clinical laboratory building at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) during the groundbreaking ceremony held on September 12, 2023 in Laoag City.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco stated that the facility, once completed, will further improve the province’s laboratory services for the effective management of various illnesses.
“Infrastructure development and upgrading of health facilities to provide safe health services in primary care facilities is an integral part towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).”
We need to invest, improve and upgrade our health facililities to ensure better outcomes dahil kapag ang isang health facility ay kumpleto ng provisions sa health at medical services, lahat ng tao ay mabibigyan ng access sa kinakailangang serbisyong pangkalusugan including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation without causing financial difficulty,” she added.
The facility was funded through the 2022 Hospital Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP). It will include essential sections in microbiology, bacteriology, histopathology and molecular laboratory.
Sydiongco handed a total of ₱15 million for the first tranche to start the construction of the laboratory.
Another check amounting to ₱12 million was given to the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to be used for the completion of the upgrading and improvement of the Piddig District Hospital.
The DOH-HFEP continues to upgrade government hospitals and health facilities in provinces to make them more responsive to the health needs of the catchment population including the upgrading of lower-level facilities to be able to accommodate nursing students and to establish gate-keeping functions to avoid congestion in higher-level hospitals, and also to expand the services of existing tertiary hospitals to provide higher tertiary care and as teaching, training hospitals.
“Infrastructure development is an important component of a well-functioning healthcare system, as it allows public health leaders to be able to respond to a health problem, and prepare for and respond to emergency health threats, including natural disasters and disease outbreaks in the community,” Sydiongco concluded.
