Establishing and upgrading hospitals should not be treated as a burden but rather as an investment in health, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, stressed this when he presided over a virtual hearing on several bills seeking to upgrade, increase the bed capacity, establish, and renationalize Department of Health (DOH) and local government unit (LGU) hospitals across the country yesterday, March 22.
Although Covid-19 cases have been going down, Go said the country must prepare itself for future pandemics that might come its way,
“We had difficulty during the early onset of the pandemic because of our neglect in our health care system capacity. The national and local government must work together to provide funding for the much needed health services,” Go said.
Go said that he personally witnessed the struggles that Filipinos across the country face just to seek medical treatment.
“Saksi po ako sa kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan sa pag-iikot ko sa mga ospital sa buong bansa (In going around the country, I have witnessed the sufferings of our countrymen). Nakakapanlumo pong makita na iyong ibang pasyente nasa corridor po ng ospital dahil walang available na kam (It is dismaying to see other patients who are forced to be in the corridor of a hospital due to the lack of beds),’’ Go recounted
“Some hospitals have already exceeded their bed occupancy rate with some reaching as high as 400 percent. Kawawa po ang kalagayan nila (Their condition is pitiful),” he continued.
The senator from Davao stressed that increasing hospital bed capacity would also enable the hospitals to comply with physical distancing protocols, which will help avoid the spread of contagious diseases.
He then reassured that his committee would continue prioritizing the improvement of the healthcare system.
Go had earlier successfully pushed for the passage of 24 laws upgrading the existing and establishing new public hospitals all over the country.
“Another 15 measures upgrading and establishing Department of Health (DOH) hospitals are pending signature of the President,” he added.
Local hospital bills tackled during the hearing include House bills seeking to increase the bed capacity of the Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City; Ospital Ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Gov. Faustino N. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Ilagan City, Isabela; Concepcion District Hospital in Concepcion, Tarlac; Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental; Unayan Municipal Hospital in Binidayan, Lanao del Sur; Balindong District Hospital in Wato-Balindong, Lanao del Sur; and the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug, Pangasinan.
Some measures also seek to convert the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City in Bohol to the Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Complex; and the Oriental Mindoro Central District Hospital in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, into a Provincial Hospital. Another bill seeks to upgrade the Orani District Hospital in Orani, Bataan into a Level II General Hospital to be known as the Antonino “Tony” P. Roman Memorial Hospital.
Meanwhile, several bills aim to establish new government hospitals, a mental health clinic, and a geriatric medical center including the establishment of the Eastern Cordillera Regional Hospital in Mayoyao, Ifugao; Ospital ng Meycauayan in Meycauayan City, Bulacan; Iloilo City Hospital in Iloilo City; Zamboanga Sibugay Medical Center in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; Liloan Children’s Hospital in Liloan, Cebu; Barangay Tablon Northern Mindanao Medical Center Satellite District Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental; San Jose del Monte Mental Wellness Center in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan; Teodoro N. Pepito Memorial General Hospital in Valencia City, Bukidnon; Aklan Geriatric Medical Center in Kalibo, Aklan; and the Isaac Tolentino Memorial Medical Center in Tagaytay City, Cavite.
During the hearing, local government units (LGUs) were directed to coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to sort out the funding requirements for the five local hospital bills that aim to renationalize hospitals.
Go also said that the funding for the upgrade and establishment of the hospitals should be ensured so that they will not turn out to be unfunded laws.
He added that the national government and local government units must work together to provide funding for much-needed health services.