President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the release of P200-million financial assistance to the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) to sustain its operations.

Malacañang announced this on Wednesday, Sept. 6, upon the acceptance of the fund by the POC from the Office of the President (OP).

POC Medical Center Chief Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr. said that the financial assistance from the OP will go a long way in sustaining the operations of the country’s prime orthopedic center, especially with the upsurge in the cases of injuries in the country.

“To achieve true universal health care, we need the confluence of a leader’s vision, the dedication and expertise of the health workers, and wherewithal,” Pujalte said in his letter of acceptance and gratitude to the President.

“For the Filipino orthopedic sick, injured, and crippled: this moment has arrived,” he added.

Aside from helping in-need Filipino orthopedic patients, Pujalte said that the cash assistance will also help in their efforts to modernize the POC by procuring state-of-the-art hospital facilities and equipment.

“Our hospital kasi was designated as a national specialty center in orthopedics. That means that it’s an apex center. It’s an apex hospital, and for us to qualify, our equipment have – they have to become modern and yung medyo state-of-the-art. So that’s where we’re going, in that direction because right now the (concept of) Universal Healthcare is being implemented,” Pujalte said.

“And, during the SONA (State of the Nation Address) of President Marcos last July, he specifically mentioned the development of specialty centers and included (in) that ,of course, (are) orthopedics, bolts, and joints,” he added.

Pujalte said that they can now accommodate more than 600 patients daily, with the donation received from the OP, in compliance with the Universal Healthcare Law which provides that all Filipinos must be able to avail of affordable, accessible and quality medical care.