With the P86-million grant for health programs in Negros Oriental from the European Union, provincial health officer Dante Domingo said yesterday he is optimistic that health services in the province will greatly improve.

Domingo said the province is one of the 16 areas in the country chosen by the EU to receive the grant for the five-year health program, that began last year.

He added that the funding will be spent for the upgrading of health facilities and equipment, and training and technical assistance to the different provincial government-run hospitals.

Domingo added that the province is among the top choices of the EU for the program, because of its track record in the delivery of health services, despite the many problems brought by the devolution of hospital services  from the national government to local government units several years ago.

Domingo added that the program is expected to address the over-crowding of patients of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, since facilities and hospital equipment of primary and district hospitals in the province will be upgraded.

At present, he said many patients who are supposed to be treated either at the primary or district hospitals are being brought to NOPH, because of lack of facilities or equipment. With the program, he added, primary and district hospitals will be capacitated, enabling them to treat cases belonging to them.

“It is envisioned that later, only cases intended for tertiary level will be brought to NOPH and therefore, solve the problem of overcrowding of patients,” Domingo said.*RA

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