MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Twelve health facilities in Ilocos Region have each received fully automated hematology analyzers worth a total of PHP3.9 million from the Department of Health in Ilocos Region (DOH-1), to complement the Universal Health Care Law implementation.
Among the recipients are the Dona Josefa Edralin Marcos Memorial Hospital, the district hospital of Vintar and the San Nicolas Rural Health Unit (RHU) in Ilocos Norte province; the Tubas BUCAS Center and San Juan RHU in La Union province; the City Health Office of Dagupan City in Pangasinan; district hospitals of Magsingal, Salcedo, Sinait, Sta. Lucia and Gabriela Silang and Lidlidda Infirmary in Ilocos Sur province.
A turn-over ceremony was held on Sept. 7 in San Juan City, La Union.
In an interview Wednesday, DOH-Center for Health Development in Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) health program officer Glen Ramos said the recently distributed equipment are in addition to the 16 machines distributed to health facilities last March 19.
“This is the last batch from the total of 28 fully automated hematology analyzers funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2023 for Ilocos Region,” he said.
Ramos said the first batch of equipment has a total value of PHP5.2 million.
DOH-1 regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco, in a statement, said the department aims to “strengthen and improve laboratory services in public health facilities including rural health units, districts hospitals, infirmaries, and the new Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) centers to provide accurate and reliable results that are essential for patient safety.”
The machines accurately count and identify blood specimens at high speed and aid in the diagnosis of anemia, infection, and hemophilia, she said.
“With these hematology analyzers installed in the communities, people will gain access to fast and accurate complete blood count, or CBC test, which will provide real time diagnosis of a variety of conditions, including anemia, blood infection and blood cancer," she added. (PNA)
