The program was the city’s response to the pressing
need for hospital and medical care of the residents of the
far-flung rural barangays of the city. Conceived in 1993,
five satellite clinics were constructed in strategic locations
to ensure accessibility of medical services. Each clinic
has a catchments area of four to eight barangay communities
composed mostly of farmers and fishermen. To ensure immediate
response to disaster and emergency cases, each clinic is
equipped with radios for faster and easier communication
and a stand-by ambulance. Each clinic has one doctor, two
nurses, and three midwives assisted by two drivers, radio
operator, clerk, security guard and utility man.
The satellite hospitals have changed the lives of the residents
and their perception of government. They feel more confident
with the presence of medical professionals whose services
can be availed of for free by poor families. Because of
the clinic’s proximity to their residence, they are
able to save on transportation costs and time, thus making
them more productive. For the last three years, about 132,000
patients from the city and neighboring towns were served
by the program. In addition to curative functions, seminars
and trainings on preventive health care were also undertaken
by the clinic staff in cooperation with the city health
office and the barangay health workers.
