SURIGAO CITY — Primary healthcare serves as the first line of defense in any effective health system, helping detect illnesses early and easing pressure on larger medical institutions. The Luna District Health Center in Barangay Luna has reached an important milestone after obtaining a "License to Operate" from the Department of Health Caraga. Located at Kilometer 4 in Barangay Luna, the facility is now officially recognized as a "Primary Care Provider" under the country's "Universal Health Care" program.
Strengthening Surigao's Primary Healthcare Network
The Luna District Health Center was one of six Primary Care Facilities in Caraga granted Licenses to Operate by DOH-13, alongside facilities in Tandag City, Barobo, Prosperidad, Placer, and the Cagniog Primary Care Facility in Surigao City. This latest accreditation raises the total number of licensed primary care facilities across the region to 36.
With the license in place, the Luna facility now complies with national standards for the delivery of essential healthcare services, including maternal and child health programs, immunizations, and the treatment of common illnesses. Positioned along the national highway at Kilometer 4, Barangay Luna, the center offers easier access to healthcare for residents of Luna and nearby communities who previously needed to travel farther for routine medical services.
Built Through Strong Policy Support and Investment
The establishment of the district health center was supported by a city government resolution enacted in line with Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Act. The measure also provided funding for the planning, construction, and operation of the facility.
A Super Health Center was subsequently developed in Barangay Luna with a project cost of PHP11.5 million and a floor area of 411 square meters to serve the area's growing healthcare needs. The initiative was undertaken through the collaboration of DOH Caraga and the city government as part of broader efforts to improve access to primary healthcare services across local communities.
Supporting Hospitals Through Community-Based Care
As a licensed primary care facility, the center plays an important role in maintaining community health and preventing chronic conditions from worsening to the point of requiring costly hospital treatment. By providing routine consultations, maternal healthcare, vaccinations, and treatment for common medical concerns at the local level, the Luna District Health Center helps lessen the number of patients seeking care at Caraga Regional Hospital.
The facility forms part of a wider initiative to make primary healthcare more accessible, efficient, and equitable throughout the Caraga Region, ensuring that quality health services are available closer to the communities they serve.
