The Puso Center Rural Health Unit VI in Barangay Pulung Cacutud is now accredited as a ‘Primary Health Clinic’ by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), expanding its free and accessible services to Angeleños.

“This is only the beginning of our aim to convert all the RHUs into Puso Centers, extending health programs and services, and to be granted accreditation from PhilHealth,” Lazatin said.

“We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the PhilHealth for granting us the accreditation,” Lazatin added.

The health services being provided in the Puso Center RHU VI include initial and follow-up primary care consultations, preventive health screening and assessment, access to selected diagnostic services, and medicines through the PhilHealth Konsulta or Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama.

Resident Physician Remedios Patio said, “Ang mandato po natin ay kailangang mabigyan ng halaga ang preventive care, at kung kinakailangan ay agarang makatanggap ng sapat na treatment. Kailangan din natin silang mabigyan ng sapat na kaalaman sa [kanilang] kalusugan,”

City Health Officer Dr. Verona Guevarra mentioned also that upon the accreditation the pre-natal check-up, family planning, immunization, TB DOTS, and the assistance to health services at Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center, formerly known as Ospital Ning Angeles can now be accessed.

Dr. Guevarra assured that the city’s health care workers are to provide patient-centered and quality health services to Angeleños, also citing the improved facility and medical equipment, functional health information system, and the updated training of health workers.

Initially, the Puso Center RHU VI only had 24/7 birthing clinic and dental clinic, which was formally opened on July 2022.

Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel with City Engineer Donato Dizon have all been instrumental in the full renovation of the Puso Center RHU VI and its prompt accreditation.

Puso Center RHU VI can accommodate residents from four barangays including Pulung Cacutud, Pulung Maragul, Cutud, and Sapalibutad, is the second Puso Center established during the stint of Mayor Lazatin.

The first Puso Center is located at the 2nd floor of the City Hall building, a three-in-one clinic offering services for animal bite treatment, dental care, minor surgery, as well as free consultation.

The delivery of health services is one of the flagship programs of Mayor Lazatin, just like his father, Cong. Carmelo ‘Tarzan’ Lazatin, who championed free and accessible health services in Angeles City and in the first district of Pampanga. (Angeles CIO)