THE first sea ambulance purchased by the Department of Health (DOH) has completed its test run and will soon serve patients in far-flung island communities and geographically isolated and disadvantage areas (Gida) in Panukulan town in Quezon province. It will also serve the Polillo Group of Islands on the southeast part of the province.
According to DOH-Calabarzon Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo, the purchase of the sea ambulance was made possible through a sub-allotment fund from the central office worth P21 million through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP). It aims to provide medical transport so that patients in island communities can have access to quality health-care services.
“We still have to furnish the needed medical equipment and emergency kits that will be placed inside the sea ambulance and we will endeavor to acquire them immediately in order to complete its emergency care services.” Janairo said.
“This is just part of the implementation of the universal health- care system and it is meant not just to transport patients to hospitals for treatment. It will also provide preventive health-care services and it must be fitted with a mobility or referral system from the point of origin of an incident until the patient reaches the nearest rural health unit (RHU) or hospital; and back to his/her home. This—mobility through sea ambulance is very important and this is one of those we will boost through primary care service,” Janairo said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Patients from the island communities who will be transported by the sea ambulance will be directed to the Claro M. Recto Memorial District Hospital (CMRMDH), a 25-bed capacity health facility located in Infanta town.
All of the RHUs in Polillo Island in Quezon, he added, will be linked to the mainland hospital and the RHU of Panukulan will be first. If there are patients needing more specialized treatment, “we will resort to telemedicine to access the specialists in Manila,” Janairo added.
Seven more sea ambulances will purchased for the island communities of Quezon to ensure a faster response to deliver, transport and provide emergency health care to patients in need of immediate treatment.
Among the other municipalities and RHUs that will soon receive sea ambulances are Alabat, Calauag, Patnanungan, Perez, Quezon and Polillo.
The turnover of the sea ambulance was held in Barangay Libjo Beach, Infanta, Quezon, on September 6, 2019.
The ambulance can go from Panukulan to Infanta in 45 minutes in good weather condition with a speed of about 30 knots. The Municipality of Panukulan is located at the northern tip of Polillo Island, 26 nautical miles (48 kilometers) from Infanta, Quezon. It is bounded by the Philippine Sea in the North, Burdeos on the East, Polillo on the South and Polillo Strait in the West.
Image credits: DOH Photo