Makati’s first 24-hour health center gets

MANILA, Philippines — DOH license Makati City’s first 24-hour health center has been granted a license to operate as a primary care facility by the Department of Health, the first in Metro Manila.

Mayor Abby Binay said yesterday the health center in Barangay Palanan was issued a license to operate as a primary care facility that adheres to the standards of the Universal Health Care Act.

“Primary care facilities are essential, particularly in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, because these centers provide the most inclusive, accessible, affordable and efficient approach to enhancing people’s health,” she said in a statement.

Binay said this health center was able to meet the license criteria, which includes patient rights and organizational ethics, patient care, leadership and management, human resource management, information management, safe practice and environment, performance, facilities, public access to information and equipment and instruments.

The city government is also upgrading two health centers in Barangays Pitogo and Tejeros in order to obtain licenses to operate.

Makati has 27 health centers located in different barangays.

“Palanan 24/7 will serve as the model for other barangay health centers in Makati to make health services more accessible to Makatizens,” Binay said.

The Palanan health center has a clinical laboratory and pharmacy and also provides services such as dental, maternal and child care; immunization; nutrition counseling; communicable and non-communicable disease prevention and control; reproductive health and family planning; tuberculosis prevention and control; minor surgical procedures and elderly care.