ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Government has launched an investigation into allegations of patient neglect and improper medical treatment at two district hospitals, including a case involving a newborn who died days after birth and another involving a critically ill patient allegedly denied admission and a hospital referral.
The separate complaints against Sara District Hospital in Sara town and Rep. Trono Memorial Hospital in Guimbal have prompted the province’s Hospital Management Office (HMO) to review patient admission, treatment and referral protocols across its entire hospital network.
The incidents, which went viral on social media on Sunday, October 25, raised concerns over the quality of medical care and compliance with the provincial government’s policy prohibiting hospitals from refusing patients.
At Sara District Hospital, the complaint involves a newborn boy who died several days after birth. The infant reportedly had a large burn-like injury on his knee, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his medical care.
Meanwhile, Rep. Trono Memorial Hospital faces allegations that its personnel failed to attend to and refused to admit a patient despite the seriousness of the patient’s condition.
The patient’s family also complained that hospital personnel failed to provide a referral when they sought to transfer the patient to a hospital in Iloilo City.
HMO head Atty. Yoko Marie A. Eguia said Monday, October 26, that the provincial government had already directed the chiefs of the two hospitals to submit incident reports detailing the circumstances surrounding the complaints.
The reports must include statements from the doctors and nurses involved, the dates and times the patients were brought to the hospitals, and the medical treatment provided.
As of Monday, the HMO had yet to receive the requested reports.
“We are still sa stage nga ginakumpleto ang aton information para mabal-an man namon kon paano i-approach ang issue kag paano ma-address ang concerns sang patients kag sang pamilya. Most importantly, kon may ara gid kami nga i-improve sa amon nga services sa hospitals, we appreciate the feedback and daku gid nga bulig nga ginapalab-ot sa amon ang concerns,” Eguia said.
She stressed that investigators must establish the facts and circumstances surrounding both incidents before determining whether hospital personnel committed any violations.
The HMO also intends to contact the families directly to obtain their accounts.
“Actually, gina-encourage man namon ang complainants nga kon puede man sila makakadto sa amon diri and anyway we will also reach out for them para sa information sa ila nga side,” Eguia added.
Possible administrative sanctions
Eguia explained that once the HMO completes its initial assessment, it may recommend that the Office of the Governor establish a fact-finding committee to evaluate the complaints.
Should the committee find indications of negligence, misconduct or violations of hospital protocols, the cases may proceed to formal investigation and possible administrative proceedings.
She emphasized that all provincial district hospitals are required to observe a strict “no refusal policy,” under which patients seeking medical assistance must be accepted and provided appropriate care.
Medical personnel are also expected to administer necessary initial treatment and stabilize patients before referring them to tertiary hospitals when their conditions require more advanced medical intervention.
Province-wide review of hospital protocols
Beyond investigating the two complaints, the HMO will review existing medical protocols in all 12 district hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan to identify possible weaknesses in patient admission, treatment and referral procedures.
Eguia said the review would determine whether lapses in communication, inadequate staff training or deviations from established procedures contributed to the reported incidents.
“Kon may kinahanglan bala nga i-change or kinahanglan namon bala sang retooling sa amon staff or basi man may miscommunication or problems or gaps with communication with the patient. Those are possibility or factors nga makaapekto sa amon nga pag-deliver sang serbisyo. Amo na ang amon isa sa intervention. There going to be a review of protocols so that we will know the appropriate interventions nga obrahan namon,” she explained.
The review aims to ensure that patients receive consistent standards of medical care regardless of which provincial hospital they visit.
Eguia clarified that existing hospital protocols are already in place, but the recent complaints underscore the need to determine whether these are being properly implemented.
“Kun may gap sa implementation or my deviation nga makita kami of the implementation of protocols, amo ina sia ang time nga ang aton technical team ma-conduct sang retooling,” she said.
The provincial government is also continuing efforts to strengthen its hospital system by filling vacant medical positions, creating additional staffing positions and improving facilities and equipment.
Among the planned improvements are the procurement of CT scan machines for selected hospitals in partnership with the Department of Health and the expansion of hospital buildings to accommodate more patients.
Public urged to avoid unverified claims
While acknowledging the seriousness of the complaints, Eguia appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information about patients and hospital personnel while investigations are underway.
“Nagapangabay lang kami nga tani we will prevent or avoid ang spreading of misinformation and unverified information kay ang aton nga medical staff nga naga-dedikar man sang ila serbisyo sa gobyerno or pag-alagad sa pasyente, nagakaapektohan man ang ila morale and puede ma-compromise ang safety sang pasyente,” she said.
She assured the public that the HMO was taking the complaints seriously and would pursue appropriate measures to address any deficiencies established by the investigation.
“Rest assured nga kami sa HMO we will give serious attention sa mga concerns and we will find resolution sa tanan nga insidente nga nagakalatabo,” Eguia said.
The investigation is expected to determine whether the complaints stemmed from individual lapses, failures to follow established procedures or broader deficiencies in the delivery of healthcare services at provincial hospitals./PN
