Makati opens 24/7 primary health care facility

Makati City residents may soon avail of government health services beyond office hours, with the launching of the city's first 24/7 primary health care facility this week.

The facility in Barangay Palanan, inaugurated on Monday, aims to help residents who need health services after barangay health centers close at 5 p.m.

“This 24/7 primary health care facility will serve as a template for the planned conversion of other barangay health centers in strategic locations in the city to make primary health services more accessible to all residents, and also for the convenience of working parents,” Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said.

He said the facility will also be open on weekends and holidays.

It also aims to decongest Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), the city-run tertiary hospital in District 2.

"The 24/7 primary health care facility will offer basic health services such as general out-patient consultation, well-baby immunization, prenatal check-up, family planning services, minor surgery, and re-insertion of indwelling catheter," the city government said.

Residents can also avail of basic laboratory services such as platelet count, urinalysis, fecalysis and gram staining. The health facility has also an in-house pharmacy and an ambulance for patient transfer.

Binay said parents with day jobs can also bring their children to the facility in Palanan for checkups after office hours.

On the other hand, a city news release noted hospital officials have observed the emergency room often becomes congested when non-emergency cases are brought there at night.

“While we are waiting for the completion of the eight-story Ospital ng Makati in Malugay St. in Bel-Air, the city government continues to look for solutions to the health concerns of our constituents,” Binay said.

Meanwhile, Makati Health Department chief Dr. Diana Jocelyn Vaño said the facility is not a lying-in clinic or an infirmary. Also, it does not offer dental and medico-legal services.

Vaño said doctors, nurses, midwives and utility workers will be divided into teams for their daily 24-hour shifts at the said health establishment.

To receive free medical services and free medicines, residents should present their updated Yellow Card (Makati Health Plus Card) or PhilHealth Card. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News