DOH STATEMENT ON EXPIRED MEDICINES STORED IN REGIONAL OFFICE

Press Release/ October 13, 2015

The Department of Health (DOH) addresses the public on the reported expired medicines discovered at the DOH Regional Office in San Fernando Pampanga last Saturday. DOH clarifies that the said medicines are not government-procured.

“Nalaman po ng DOH na may iilang non-government organizations (NGOs) na nakatanggap ng mga donasyon mula sa ibang bansa para sa mga biktima ng bagyong Yolanda . Ang mga gamot na ito ay may iba’t ibang expiration dates. Minarapat ng DOH na tulungan ang mga NGOs na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahintulot na gamitin ang warehouse at personnel ng DOH Region III upang masiguro ang tamang segregation ng mga gamot at ma-distribute ang mga ito bago mag-expire.” Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin explained.

All medicines procured by the DOH are mandated by government regulations to have expiry dates ranging from three (3) to five (5) years from the time of delivery.

Upon Secretary Garin’s assumption in office, there were 72 partially documented containers in the port, mostly donations that DOH had to settle and assist; hence, DOH issued guidelines on foreign donations covering medicines and medical equipments to ensure the quality of donations being delivered to the public from various organizations. These guidelines mandate, among others, the acceptance of donations, whose expiration date will allow adequate time for distribution and utilization among beneficiaries. In the case of medical equipment, donations may only be accepted if the consumables are locally available and affordable. It is also required that the model of the equipment donated is not more than two years old.

The said guidelines also call for the completion of documents from the donor and proper notification to the intended recipient, prior to shipment of the goods. This will prevent the accumulation of demurrage charges, as most of the NGOs do not have the budget to pay for these charges.

“Sa tulong ng ating mga kasamahan sa media, nais po naming ipaalam sa mga nagbabalak mag- donate o tumanggap ng donasyon galing sa ibang bansa na makipag-ugnayan sa DOH para sa mas maayos na pagtanggap at pag proseso ng mga donasyon. Tayo po ay magtulong-tulong upang masiguro na lahat ng donasyon ay mayroong sapat na panahon para maipamahagi at magamit ng ating mga kababayan na siyang higit na nangangailangan nito.”  Garin concluded.

Unang batch ng DOH paramedic trainees, ga-graduate na sa Martes

QUEZON CITY, ika-7 ng Setyembre ---Magsisitapos ngayong Martes ang unang batch ng mga trainee na pinag-aral ng Department of Health (DOH) para maging paramedic.

Ang paramedic ay bihasa o sanay sa pagbibigay ng paunang lunas (First Aid)  o kaya emergency medical care sa mga sugatan o may karamdaman.

Labing dalawa sa mga magsisitapos ay para sa Mimaropa na nakamotorsiklo kapag rumesponde.

"Ang mga ito (paramedics) ay mga naka-back pack--- may oxygen,  ECG machine, defibrillator, tracheostomy set, mga gamot para maka-responde agad sa mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong,"paliwanag ni  Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo ng DOH-Mimaropa sa isang panayam.

"Ang mga gra-graduate ay pwedeng mag-inject (ng gamot) o gumamit ng defibrillator at pwede magsagawa ng minor surgery," sabi pa ni Director Janairo.

Dalawang taon ang itinagal ng pagsasanay: ilan sa mga trainee ay may background sa nursing.

Inaasahan din ni Director Janairo na magiging tagapagsanay or trainor ang mga bagong motorcyle paramedics.

Ang siyam sa mga ga-graduate ay mula sa DOH at ang nalalabi ay mula sa pribadong sektor ayon naman kay Glenn Ramos, Community Affairs and Media Relations Officer ng DOH Mimaropa.

Bukas ng gabi gaganapin sa Lungsod ng Maynila ang graduation mga DOH paramedic trainee.

Bukod kay Health Secretary Janette Garin, naanyayahan din sa graduation ang mga kalihim na sina Joel Villanueva ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) at Mario Montejo ng Department of Science and Technology.

DOH: Injuries lower on Christmas but trend still unacceptable

Real or not, the photo shows how deadly firecrackers are. Government is calling on the public to opt for safe and healthy ways to celebrate new year.

Christmas Day has come and passed, and as of today the Department of Health recorded 113 cases of fireworks-related injuries. While 86 cases (43%) lower compared to the same period last year, DOH still finds the trend unacceptable, especially on cases where injuries resulted to permanent consequences.

“Ang BAWAT ISANG buhay ay mahalaga,” acting health secretary Janette Loreto-Garin stressed. The lower number of cases only encourages DOH to intensify its campaign to stop the use of firecrackers in merry-making to welcome the New Year.

Of the 112 cases, 96 (86%) were males aged three to 68 years old. DOH is still disheartened that 39 cases (35%) were children less than ten years old. Majority or 75 cases (67%) were caused by piccolo, a very dangerous and illegal firecracker.

One case of firework ingestion has now been recorded, and involved a five year old male, who mistook luces for candy.

Of the reported cases, 87 were blast wounds, and six required amputation. Sixteen cases had eye injuries. Parents and adults are once again being called to be even more vigilant in protecting children from using and being endangered by firecrackers. Children should be kept away from firecrackers, prevented from buying them, and sternly educated on their dangers.

In an earlier statement, DOH asked parents: “Imagine the rest of a child’s life without hands, arms, legs, or injured body parts after losing them to fireworks… Not only is self-esteem drastically diminished, productivity at school will also be greatly affected.”

To help the public be constantly reminded of life-time consequences of firecracker injuries, the DOH rallied for the support of other Government agencies on its advocacy campaign “Mahalaga ang Buhay, Iwasan ang Paputok.” Immediately, the managements of Department of Transportation and Communication, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine National Railways, Light Railway Transit Authority, and Philippine Information Agency have committed their participation in the campaign.

Mayors and Governors are also being called to join in the campaign to eliminate firecracker injuries. DOH supports the growing public clamor for local governments to order firecracker bans. As in previous years, most cases to date come from the National Capital Region then followed by regions 10, 11 and 6. In the NCR, cases came from Manila, Pasig, Las Pinas and Pasay.

Every Filipino citizen can be part of the anti-firecracker advocacy. The public is encouraged to share the Iwas Paputok video now posted on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In addition to the information drive, all health personnel in DOH offices, hospitals and medical centers are on Code White alert – they are on standby for the duration of the holiday season, prepared to provide assistance in treating victims of firecrackers.

To the families unfortunate to experience firecracker injuries of loved ones, quick and decisive action will be most necessary. Injured family members should have their wounds cleaned with water and protected by sterile gauze bandages, and then immediately brought to hospitals for proper treatment. Medical personnel will do the necessary treatment of wounds, give anti-tetanus shots and antibiotics.

27 December 2014

Below are the names and contact numbers of resource persons for Iwas Paputok and spending healthy holidays:

• Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Official DOH Spokesperson, 0917 852 7880
• Asst Secretary Gerardo Bayugo (DOH Executive), 0908 868 6312
• Asst Secretary Bernardita Flores (National Nutrition Council), Office Line: 02 892 4721
• Dr. Israel Francis Pargas (PhilHealth, OIC VP-Corporate Affairs), Office Line: 02 638 1682
• Dr. Minguita Padilla (Private Consultant and Eye Expert), 0917 513 1840

May problema sa PhilHealth? Sumugod sa PhilHealth Sabado 2

Kung ikaw ay sundalo at retirado sa edad singkwenta'y sais, makikinabang ka ba sa PhilHealth?

Pwede, sabi Philippine Health Insurance Corporation President at Chief Executive Officer Rey Aquino kaninang umaga sa pang-Martes na edisyon ng PIA Communication and News Exchange Forum/Talking Points.

Basta't nakapaghulog o may isang daan at dalawampung kontribusyon na sa PhilHealth ay walang dapat ikabahala ang sundalong retirado, dagdag paliwanag ni Dr. Aquino.

Mas maaga ng siyam na taon ang pagreretiro ng mga nasa military service kumpara sa karaniwang manggagawa sa pamahalaan at sa puntong ito nagkakaroon ng kalituhan minsan sa sandaling maghabol ng benipisyo ang mga retiradong kawal.

Kung may mga miyembrong namumublema sa paggamit ng PhilHealth, pinapayuhan sila ni Dr. Aquino na lumahok sa PhilHealth Sabado 2 ngayong June 25 sa ilang mga piling paaralan.

Noong isang taon unang idinaos ang PhilHealth Sabado na naglalayong sakupin maging ang mga mamamayan sa informal sector na may kakayahang makapaglaan ng pondo para sa pangangailaga ng kalusugan.

Kabilang sa mga ito ay ang mga mangingisda, drayber ng dyip, tindera't tindero sa palengke o mga self-employed individuals pati mga propesyunal gaya ng doktor at abugado na may private practice o hindi namamasukan.

Bakit pati doktor at abugado? Naniniwala si Dr. Aquino na darating ang panahon na mangangailangan din ang mga propesyunal ng tulong mula sa PhilHealth.

Sa huling bilang ng PhilHealth, mahigit sa apat na milyong informal sector workers ang nakarehistro sa ngayon.

Kung pagbabatayan ang census ng National Statistics Office noong 2008, mahigit sa sampung milyong katao sa informal sector ang may kapasidad na magbayad ng health insurance.

Kaya ngayon, sinisikap ng PhilHealth na mairehistro ang natitirang anim na milyong katao sa sektor alinsunod na rin sa hangarin ng Pangulong Noynoy Aquino na magbigyan ng health insurance ang lahat.

Kasama sa hangarin na ito ang pagkakaroon ng PhilHealth ang mga sponsored members: mga miyembrong hindi magbabayad ni singkong duling matapos makapagpagamot sa ospital.

Nililinaw lang ng PhilHealth na hindi libre ang mga sponsored members; sila ang mga pinakamahihirap na mamamayan na sasagutin ng Pamahalaang Nasyunal o ng lokal na pamahalaan na ang kanilang kontribusyon sa PhilHealth.

Paalala lang ni Dr. Aquino sa mga pupunta sa PhilHealth Sabado: magdala ng birth certificate o marriage certificate at ng tatlong daan piso bilang paunang kontribusyon sa unang tatlong buwan.

Kada tatlong buwan ang hulugan sa PhilHealth, kaya sa isang taon, ang kabuuang kontribusyon ay aabot sa P1,200.

Kapag miyembro na ng PhilHealth, hindi lang yung taong naka-rehistro ang makikinabang kundi pati ang asawa, anak at iba pang idedeklarang dependent ng miyembro.

Para sa mga taga-Metro Manila, maaring magparehistro sa mga sumusunod na paaralan: (1) Aurora Quezon Elementary School, San Andres, Malate, Manila; (2) Commonwealth Elementary School, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City;(3)T. Paez Elementary School, Apelo Cruz Street, Malibay, Pasay City; (4) Pasig Elementary School, Caruncho Avenue, San Nicolas, Pasig City; (5) San Juan Elementary School, N. Domingo corner A. Luna Streets, Balongbato, San Juan City;(6) Gen. T. De Leon Elementary School, Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City; (7) Navotas Sports Complex, Navotas, Manila; (8) Bayanan Elementary School Unit I, Valeda Street, Bayanan, Muntinlupa City; (9) National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue, Quezon City; and (10) SM Taytay Event Center.

Sa iba pang lungsod at lalawigan, tumawag sa PhilHealth sa telepone bilang 637-6262 o 637-9999.

Para sa karagdagan paliwanag sa PhilHealth Sabado 2 at iba pang isyung pang-PhilHealth, panoorin si Dr. Aquino sa mga sumusunod na links: http://bit.ly/moUsuH, http://bit.ly/iQB9qx at http://bit.ly/kFuAw6.