CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – In her first act as Laguna’s chief executive on June 30, Gov. Sol Aragones signed an executive order that prohibits employees in State-run health care facilities in the province from being rude or disrespectful to patients.

Executive Order No. 1, titled “Bawal Ang Mataray Sa Ospital ng Laguna,” covers healthcare employees in Laguna’s nine district hospitals, rural health units, city health centers, and other government health facilities across the province.

The order applies to doctors, nurses, health workers, and all staff of Laguna’s health facilities.

“Those in hospitals are people in need of help, not additional burden. A simple show of kindness and proper behavior from our medical frontliners can be a moral booster for patients and their families,” Aragones said in a press statement.

She said the executive order will also address gaps in staffing and hospital equipment.

“We will also look into the situation of our health workers. Some may be irritable due to extreme fatigue caused by extended shifts and staff shortages.”

The order was signed in the presence of Vice Gov. JM Carait, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, provincial department heads, and health consultants.

Herbosa lauded the Aragones’ initiative in making health the central program of her administration. He said he will look into the possibility of adopting the same measure nationwide.

“When I first saw this, I said, I should also do it for all DOH hospitals. I will look into this. There are four governors who also seek my help and I can recommend this to them,” the Health Secretary said.

The governor said a team will review and recommend possible sanctions that will be imposed to employees who violate the order.

After meeting with department heads, Aragones and Herbosa conducted surprise inspections of two major hospitals in Laguna, the Laguna Medical Center in Santa Cruz and Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Calamba City to assess the status of patients, facilities, and public services being delivered.

As a candidate, Aragones ran a campaign on improving Laguna’s healthcare services from the facilities to the welfare of personnel.

Aside from regular inspections, the governor vowed to hold office in public hospitals to have a better view of and response to health care issues. (With CH/PIA-Laguna)