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Determined to save lives, administration senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos intends to establish Super Health Centers nationwide in a bid to decongest major hospitals so they can more people with serious cases. 

“This is something we implemented in Mandaluyong—Super Health Centers that handle minor cases so that hospitals can focus on severe conditions,” Abalos, a member of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate, said in a statement Sunday, March 16.

Given the country’s geography, he suggested strategically locating these centers to improve accessibility for communities far from major hospitals.

“Kung maayos ang Super Health Centers, hindi na kailangang dumagsa ang pasyente sa mga ospital. Mas maluwag ang sistema, mas maraming buhay ang maliligtas (If Super Health Centers function properly, hospitals won’t be overcrowded, and more lives can be saved),” he explained.

Abalos stressed there should be an inventory of hospitals across the country to determine which facilities are being efficiently managed by provincial governments and which should be supported or taken over by the national government. 

“Hospitals should be inventoried. How many are managed by provincial governments? What is their status? If they are struggling, the national government must step in,” he said.

Upgraded barangay health stations 

These Super Health Centers are designed to act as enhanced barangay health stations equipped with emergency services, X-ray machines, and diagnostic tools to ease congestion in larger hospitals.

Abalos, a former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary also underscored the role of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in supporting local government units (LGUs) by subsidizing medical expenses. But he noted that preventive care, rather than treatment, should be the priority.

“PhilHealth is crucial because it reimburses LGUs. But what is even more important is prevention—an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” he added, pointing to the state health insurer’s lesser-known Konsulta Program, which provides free annual check-ups, diagnostic services, and maintenance medication.

“People should be aware of this,” Abalos said. “A lot of lives can be saved through early detection and preventive care.”