Sen. Marcos calls for more RHUs to address most common
health concerns

Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. today said the next administration must create more rural health units and barangay health centers to attend to the basic health concerns of the people, particularly the poor.

Marcos said that based on his experience as a three-term governor of Ilocos Norte, majority of poor people who get sick do not go to hospitals until after their condition had gotten worse and this contributes to the high mortality rate in the country.

"So, instead of expecting patients to go to hospitals we should put up more Rural Health Units in municipalities as well as barangay health centers, particularly in far-flung areas with permanently assigned nurse and midwife and a doctor available for at least 2 days of the week," Marcos said.

Marcos noted that majority of health problems people experience are common ailments that health personnel of the RHUs and barangay health centers can adequately address.

"By having more RHUs, we can vastly improve the delivery of primary health care services to our people," said Marcos.

In the meantime, Marcos said the government can conduct medical and dental missions in remote areas with no existing RHUs or barangay health centers to address the health concerns of the people.

To maximize the opportunity, Marcos said such activity could also involve other key agencies of the government such as the Land Transportation Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Social Welfare and Development.

"In this way we can deliver basic government services to our people right at their doorsteps," said Marcos.

Marcos said he chose to run for Vice President instead of seeking a re-election in the Senate because he believes that with his extensive experience in the executive department he can do more to help realize every Filipino's dream of a more progressive future for all of us.