Another significant step in improving the health of all Filipinos was made on Dec. 17, 2014, with the signing of the Department of Health (DOH) and the UP System of a Memorandum of Agreement on a new institutional partnership.
Characterized as a “re-energized partnership” by Acting Health Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin, the agreement specifically refers to a financial component to boost the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) medical services to hundreds of thousands of under-privileged Filipinos.
UP President Alfredo Pascual led the UP System delegation which welcomed Acting Health Secretary Garin to the ceremonies held at the UP Manila Social Hall to highlight the landmark accord.
UP President Pascual and Acting Health Secretary Garin were the main signatories to the latest MOA between the DOH and the UP System.
Emphasizing that “DOH cannot do it alone,” Acting Health Secretary Garin said fulfilling the Aquino administration’s “Pangkalahatang Kalusugan” program needs the partnership of constant, reliable, and productive institutions like the UP System.
In his speech, UP President Pascual expressed his gratitude on behalf of the UP System, noting the financial component of the partnership and the honor of working together with the DOH in uplifting the people’s health.
UP President Pascual said that being the head of UP is “a very complex and complicated challenge.”
“As it is the only National University, as stated in its 2008 Charter, UP has to remain relevant always to what the Filipinos need as well as continuously work for greatness to be comparable with all of the world’s excellent academic institutions,” he said.
“To achieve such, institutional support is very necessary. This agreement is a prime example of a tie-up between UP’s Health Sciences Center and a government agency that deals with the health concerns of the indigents,” the UP President said.
The new partnership will provide Php 150 million for the purchase of modern equipment for medical services to poor Filipinos, enhancement of health human resource, and capacity-building in health care, research, training, and policy development.
