By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — All victims of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake which jolted parts of Luzon will be receiving free medical assistance from the country’s national health insurance program, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday.
Duque made this announcement before President Rodrigo Duterte during a situation briefing in San Fernando, Pampanga.
“Sinisiguro po natin na lahat ng gastusin sa kanilang pagpapa-ospital ay sasagutin po ng PhilHealth at ng DOH (We assure all victims of the quake that their hospital feels will be shouldered by the PhilHealth and the Department of Health) through the medical assistance program,” Duque said.
Duque said he has also instructed medical center chiefs to provide updates of the day-to-day conditions of all of the injured patients.
At present, Duque said his agency reported that were a total of 16 deaths and 112 individuals treated for injuries obtained from the earthquake.
Out of the 112, 17 were brought to the JB Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital with four of them already discharged.
On the other hand, 75 of the 112 are in the Jose Songco District Hospital and 21 are in the Romana Pangan District Hospital.
Duque, however, assured that all patients are being managed adequately.
“So far they are being managed adequately. No problems in terms of medication and operations for the various seriously injured. It’s a range of injuries, Mr. President, from minor to major others needing amputation,” Duque said.
“Don’t worry, Mr. President, because we are doing everything to make sure that the medical assistance is adequate if not more than adequate,” he added.
Moreover, Duque said his agency is monitoring the absorptive capacity of DOH hospitals as well as in coordination with the local hospitals, the district hospitals in particular for any additional assistance or complementation of services.
Duterte said he was satisfied with the medical assistance being provided by the health department.
“So, in other words, that the — are medical response to everybody — to every kind of injury suffered now by the people can adequately be met by government at this time?” Duterte asked Duque, who replied the affirmative.
“Okay, I’m quite satisfied with this,” he added.
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