Free annual check-up, lab exams for Oro residents in the offing

THE proposed ordinance for free annual comprehensive medical check-ups and laboratory exams to all residents of Cagayan de Oro is being scrutinized by the City Council Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Health Insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane.

Introduced by City Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, the proposed ordinance shall also give priority to senior citizens, solo parents, and Persons with Disabilities in government health facilities.

It may be recalled that the J.R. Borja General Hospital (JRBGH) submitted to the committee its comment that they’ve been providing health services to the city’s residents for free, including other neighboring provinces, and likewise giving priority to the said residents since most of their patients are marginalized.

In response to the request of the committee for a recommendation, the Department of Health (DOH) suggested including health workers as one of the priority beneficiaries who can avail of the health care services, citing that the city can assure a healthy, skilled, and motivated staff committed to providing high-quality care by looking after the well-being of the health personnel.

DOH also suggested adding a provision for licensing of Konsulta providers to ensure that safe and quality primary care services are being delivered to every Kagay-anon, which further implies that all current and future Primary Care Facilities (PCF)/Konsulta Providers in the city should be licensed by the DOH. The committee requested the City Health Office to also submit its recommendations.