Provincial Hospital Upgrades Underway

The Cebu Provincial Government has allotted a total of P2.6 million for the repair of a provincial hospital and construction of a rehabilitation center for differently-abled persons (PWD).

Provincial Board (PB) Member Christopher Baricuatro, in the resolution, set aside P1.818 million for the renovation of toilets and bathrooms of Danao City Provincial Hospital.

In 2016 election, Governor Davide vowed to install better facilities in all 16 provincial and district hospitals including free healthcare services to indigents through zero billing policy and point-of- care program.

Baricuatro also sponsored a resolution for the construction of a PWD rehabilitation center in Minglanilla District Hospital amounting to P794, 795.

Earlier this week, Provincial Health Office (PHO) Chief, Rene Catan, said that upgrading all four provincial hospitals to Level II is the priority of the provincial government.

Catan added that the move aims to decongest the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and district hospitals.

Under the Level II category, a health care facility must have specialized departments such as internal medicine, OB-gyne and anesthesiology.

It also requires the hospital to have a computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment.

“Having the four provincial hospitals the capacity to conduct major surgeries is seen to reduce the mortality rate since patients will no longer travel far to avail of the services,” Catan added.

This year, Capitol has allotted P133 million for the upgrade of hospital amenities on top of the P488 million budget of the PHO.

PHO’s medicine supplies rose substantially by 50 percent this year at P30 million from P15 million in 2016.

The four hospitals in the province, which will be upgraded to Level II, are located in the cities of Carcar, Danao and Bogo and in the town of Balamban.

Last week, the PB also approved a P17.1 million budget for the repairs of the Provincial Hospital in Bogo City.

SOURCE: www.cebu.gov.ph