Koronadal City, South Cotabato | — No patient should suffer—or risk losing their life—simply because they were not brought to the right facility on time. This is the strong message of the Office of the Provincial Health Office (OPHO) as it intensifies efforts to strengthen South Cotabato’s referral system, a lifeline for patients needing urgent, specialized medical care.
Universal Health Care Program Holder Kharen Diezon underscored that a clear and disciplined referral flow is not just a procedure—it is a safeguard that can spell the difference between survival and tragedy.
“A referral flow is more than a process—it is a lifeline that can determine whether a patient survives or not,” Ms. Diezon said.
She stressed that an organized process from barangay health stations to higher-level hospitals ensures fast, accurate, and uninterrupted medical attention.
“When our referral system works, patients receive fast, accurate, and uninterrupted care from the barangay level all the way to higher hospitals,” she emphasized.
Ms. Diezon added that strengthening the system helps prevent dangerous gaps in service delivery.
“A strong referral system prevents deadly delays, eliminates wasted resources, and ensures no patient slips through the cracks of our healthcare chain,” she noted.
With midwives, program coordinators, and nurses from across the province, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer conducted training, pushing for a more synchronized and responsive health network.
“This training strengthens the entire health network of South Cotabato, making sure our people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Diezon stressed.
“By improving our referral flow, we reinforce the goals of the Free Hospitalization Program and the Universal Health Care Program—health services that are equitable, seamless, and accessible to all,” she added.
The initiative also supports Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr.’s Free Hospitalization Program and the national Universal Health Care Program, both aiming to provide equitable, accessible, and seamless health services for all.
