MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health, along with chiefs of medical centers and agencies under its supervision, inaugurated the National Hospital Week celebration at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center on August 8, 2016.

During the opening ceremony, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial introduced her plan to improve not only the health facilities, but also the service delivery network.

“It has been my vision that it will no longer be the patient’s problem to get to the facility that provides [tertiary hospital services], but the health system’s commitment to bring that person to the appropriate care facility – whether it be public or private – where the services can be provided.”

Sec. Ubial also emphasized that there is a need to look into the entire hospital system. “One facility in a municipality or a province cannot exist in isolation of the others and we cannot develop our regional centers and hospitals without developing the peripheral facilities,” said Ubial, as she discussed the new administration’s health agenda.

The National Hospital Week is an annual celebration in pursuance to the Presidential Proclamation No. 181. With this year’s theme, “Ospital kaagapay para sa malusog na isip at katawan tungo sa pagbabago”, the celebration aims to promote awareness on the health programs and the social roles of hospitals, in collaboration with other sectors in the community, in maintaining a healthy citizenry.

For more photos of the event, click here.