To ensure more efficient hospital transactions in the delivery of healthcare services, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), through its Public Assistance and Complaints Unit (PACU), implemented the enhanced Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA), also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11032).

Under the act, government agencies are required to determine their processes or transactions for frontline services, undertake re-engineering of transaction systems and procedures, including time and motion studies, if necessary and after compliance, and set-up respective service standards or Citizen’s Charter.

The reinforcement of ARTA within RITM follows a five-day orientation attended by PACU officers earlier this year. The new implementation regulations and assessment were echoed in an internal orientation held on March 29, 2019 and attended by representatives from the different RITM departments responsible for frontline and other support services, including ARG, Billing Section, Cashier/Cash and Collection Section, Communication and Engagement Office, Clinical Laboratory, CRD Quality Assurance, Dermatology Department, Diagnostic Imaging Department, Dietary, Engineering Department, General Services (Security), Hospital Information Management Department, Human Resource Department, Information, Medical Department, Medical Social Welfare Department, Nursing, Pharmacy, PACU, and Procurement.

ARTA was established to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and corruption, and providing penalties.

An external researcher will be assigned to RITM to assess the Institute’s compliance to various ARTA provisions.

by Ma. Patricia Lansang, Communication and Engagement Office