ANTIQUE — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Antique is deliberating a proposed partnership between the provincial government and a cooperative to provide diagnostic services that may be charged under the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
The proposal stemmed from a request by Gov. Paolo Javier seeking authority from the provincial board to enter into a three-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Health and Allied Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative (HEALS MPC).
Under the proposed agreement, the provincial government will allocate a total of P18,099,000. Of the amount, P3,099,000 will be used to purchase one unit each of an X-ray machine, blood chemistry equipment, and an immunology machine. An additional P5,000,000 will be set aside annually for three years as payment to HEALS MPC, which will provide diagnostic services.
The initiative aims to make diagnostic services more accessible to patients in Antique, particularly those who cannot afford such procedures.
Under the scheme, patients in need of diagnostic services will be referred by the provincial government to HEALS MPC, with the costs to be charged under the AICS program.
The proposal also includes plans to extend services to underserved communities through a mobile clinic.
SP Member Karmila Rose Dimamay, chair of the Committee on Finance, said consultations with HEALS MPC indicate that the provincial government could save up to 30 percent under the arrangement. She added that the program could be implemented sooner, as the cooperative would handle the procurement of equipment instead of going through standard government bidding procedures.
However, some board members have raised concerns over the proposal. SP Member Vince Piccio III expressed reservations, saying the arrangement might be “disadvantageous” to the provincial government.
The SP is expected to continue deliberations on the proposed partnership during its next regular session on Monday, March 23./PN
