Paoay: A primary care facility in this municipality opened Thursday to provide accessible and quality medical services to over 20,000 residents. Funded through the General Appropriations Act of 2023 with a budget of PHP20 million, the two-story multi-purpose rural health unit of Paoay town was constructed through the Department of Health-Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP).

According to Philippines News Agency, the facility features a spacious patient lounge area, a dental clinic, consultation and laboratory rooms, a physician's office, a pantry, storage space, and a pharmacy with essential medicines. Paoay Mayor Sheilla Galano expressed gratitude during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, acknowledging the efforts of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, and Senator Imee Marcos in acting on their request. She highlighted the importance of providing basic healthcare services to residents.

Resident Mark Tabije noted that with the new facility's air-conditioning, patients, particularly children, pregnant women, and senior citizens, will no longer endure the heat and exhaustion while waiting for medical consultation and vaccination. Rep. Barba emphasized that constructing the facility aligns with the administration's health agenda to bring healthcare services closer to the people.

The facility's opening coincided with the town fiesta's celebration, which began Thursday and will continue until May 8. In line with the universal healthcare program, the Ilocos Norte government and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) are working to accredit all rural health facilities in the area as primary healthcare providers.

Once accredited, these facilities will implement PhilHealth's comprehensive outpatient benefit package, Konsultasyong Sulit Tama (Konsulta), offering free consultation, laboratory examinations, and medicines to PhilHealth members and dependents, or a personal co-pay of PHP500 in private healthcare facilities.