CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Health (DOH) here has reported 8,141 new cases of tuberculosis (TB) this year in Central Luzon, as it vowed to wipe out the ailment, this time with the help of the private sector under the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.
Dr. Rhodora Cruz, TB medical coordinator of the DOH for Central Luzon, noted, however, that the figure is lower than the 15,696 registered cases across Central Luzon in 2011.
“The reasons for the big drop include accreditation by PhilHealth of 18 rural health Units and city health centers as TB Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) facilities while 10 other units and centers were certified by DOH,” Cruz explained.
Cruz noted that of the confirmed TB cases, 539 were “retreatment cases.”
“The DOH aims to eliminate TB cases in Central Luzon via the PPP. Quarterly round-table discussions are being held with private sector partners to address different situations and problems regarding TB,” she said.
Cruz said these meetings with the private health sector “enables us to reach all hospitals and medical societies”, as she noted that “accredited facilities could get allowances from PhilHealth amounting to P4,000 per patient.”
Cruz noted that the World Health Organization has admitted that TB has remained a major public health problem, ranking sixth among the 10 leading causes of mortality in the Philippines.
“The Philippines is ninth among 22 high TB-burdened countries in the world,” she said.
Cruz said the “DOH seeks the support of both local government units and the private sector in the vision of a TB-free nation.”
She cited government initiatives are in line with the eight National TB Program (NTP) strategies including localizing implementation of TB control; monitoring health system performance; engaging all health care providers; promoting positive behaviors of communities; addressing the needs of vulnerable population; regulating and making quality TB diagnostic tests and drugs; certifying and accrediting TB care providers; and securing adequate funding and improving allocation and efficiency of fund utilization.
