A bill seeking to increase the bed capacity of Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital (ILASMDH) in Negros Occidental from 25 to 100 beds has gained the nod of the House Committee on Health.

House Bill 6828, principally authored by Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, was approved by the House panel, chaired by Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan before Congress’ adjournment on December 19.

ILASMDH is a 25-bed infirmary health facility located in the municipality of Isabela in Negros Occidental.

“Given its strategic location, ILASMDH provides health care services not only to the residents of Isabela, but to a lot of patients in its adjacent municipalities; Binalbagan, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, City of Himamaylan and certain parts of Negros Oriental,” Arroyo said.

According to her, ILASMDH has been catering health services to mostly indigent patients.

She noted that that in 2016, it served 3, 262 indigent patients, and 1, 183 of them were treated from January to June 2019.

“At present, the hospital’s authorized bed capacity and actual hospital bed occupancy rate is mismatched,” she said.

Arroyo laments that every year, the hospital exceeds its bed occupancy due to its volume of admissions.

She said from January to June 2019, the bed occupancy rate of ILASMDH has reached 110.83 percent with an average daily admissions of 28 patients per day. “Hence, there is an urgent need for the increase of its bed capacity.”

House Bill No. 6828 provides that the increase in bed capacity of the ILASMDH from 25 to 100 beds shall be implemented within one year from the law’s effectivity.

The bill provides that the amount necessary for the upgrade including the acquisition of additional personnel, medical equipment and facilities and the construction of needed infrastructure shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued operations shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.