CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), in partnership with the Dr. Damian Reyes Provincial Hospital, formally opened the first Senior Citizen’s Ward in the region located at the provincial hospital in Boac, Marinduque to cater to the elderly residents of the province.
“It is our duty to take good care of our elderly population and provide them the utmost care they deserve. They must be given priority and ensure that they will be accommodated conveniently”, DOH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo said during his visit to the facility.
Janairo has assured senior citizen patients not to worry about their hospital bills for they are already covered by PhilHealth’s No Balance Billing Policy.
“Indigent senior citizens can also avail of free vaccination against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease upon check-up” he added.
The Senior Citizen Ward is located at the old administration building of the provincial hospital. It is fully furnished and equipped with air-condition with a 10-bed capacity divided between male and female patients.
DOH-MIMAROPA provided the hospital beds and bedside tables from the funds of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
The construction of the ward started last January under the initiative of the OIC-Chief of Hospital, Dr. Ruby Ephraim M. Rubiano, also head of the Health Facilities Operations and Development Unit of the DOH-MIMAROPA.
The “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010″ provides for a “senior citizens’ ward” in every government hospital for the exclusive use of senior citizens who are in need of hospital confinement by reason of their health conditions.
