ILOILO – Twenty primary care facilities in this province have secured licenses to operate this year from the Department of Health (DOH), guaranteeing high-quality and accessible healthcare services for residents.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said DOH’s licensing process ensures that healthcare facilities, particularly Rural Health Units (RHUs), meet stringent safety, quality, and accessibility standards.
The licensing requirements include:
* Facilities and Equipment – adequate infrastructure and medical tools
* Personnel – licensed health workers, including DOH-certified Primary Care Workers
* Services – consultations, health promotion, minor procedures, and referrals
* Compliance – adherence to policies on infection control, waste management, and records management
The 20 licensed primary care facilities are located in Pototan, Tubungan, Concepcion, Batad, Mina, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, Balasan, Dumangas, Badiangan, Leganes, Carles, San Joaquin, Lambunao, Ajuy, Zarraga, Barotac Nuevo, Alimodian, Pavia, and San Enrique.
Dr. Quiñon noted that more local government units (LGUs) are aligning with the DOH’s licensing requirements, thanks to the support of the Quality and Performance Monitoring Unit of the Iloilo PHO and the Development Management Officers (DMOs) of the Iloilo Provincial Department of Health Office.
The PHO is working to achieve Primary Care Facility (PCF) licensing for all 43 LGUs in the province by 2025, aiming to ensure universal access to quality primary care services./PN
