The Department of Health in Mimaropa and the local government of Marinduque recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with two government medical centers to provide expanded health care delivery system through telemedicine and establishing a Toxic Disease Surveillance System for the province.
DoH Mimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo noted that with the collaboration, they can now properly address the medical needs of affected individuals in communities that are still exposed to the dangers of the abandoned Marcopper mining site in the municipalities of Mogpog, Boac and Sta. Cruz.
The MoA was signed with Batangas Medical Center and East Avenue Medical Center at the Dr. Damian J. Reyes Memorial Hospital in Boac, Marinduque on May 30, 2017.
“The two medical centers are known for their specialization on poison and toxicology, as well as quality medication, treatment, diagnosis and management of patients. They will serve as referral hospitals for patients from Marinduque,” he added.
Research and assessment conducted by the health department during 1980s and 1990s discovered that high levels of heavy metal poisoning coming from the mining site are still prevalent.
“We have responded to the needs of these exposed communities by conducting physical examination on the residents through the use of telemedicine, which virtually evaluates them through video conference,” Janairo emphasized.
Medical expenses of patients referred to the two hospitals, such as hospitalization, treatment and laboratory examinations will be charged to the Medical Assistance Program of the DoH regional office, including expenses incurred in transporting specimens for laboratory examination.
The telemedicine system was the first health interactive system established at the Dr. Damian Reyes Memorial Hospital in Boac, Marinduque on Nov. 26. It has been used for remotely diagnosing and treating patients requiring immediate treatment and care from the province.
Marinduque is one of the five island provinces of Mimaropa, with six municipalities, usually accessible through Lucena City, Quezon via a three-hour “RoRo” boat ride or through a commercial plane with twice-daily scheduled flights from Manila. It costs a patient about P6,000 to P8,000 travel to a hospital of their choice or a tertiary hospital for referral.