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Iloilo’s poor deserve better service – guv ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – A doctor at a district hospital risks losing his job for not regularly reporting. Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is not pleased.
“He seldom reports to the hospital and he can’t satisfactorily explain his absences,” Defensor told capitol reporters.
An administrative complaint will be filed against the doctor and this should lead to his dismissal from the service, Defensor said.
The governor declined to identify the doctor but said an investigation is in order.
The doctor is a “permanent medical officer,” according to Defensor, so regular reporting to the hospital is required.
“This doctor only reports to the hospital if there are cases needing surgery,” lamented Defensor.
The doctor’s competence is beyond question, he clarified, but regular hospital attendance has become an issue.
“Ti, kon kaisa naga-balanse man pinsar mo kay nami man nga surgeon,” the governor revealed.
According to Defensor, he wanted an efficient delivery of healthcare services in provincial government-run district hospitals, thus hospital personnel, without exception, must regularly report to work.
‘HOSPITALS FOR THE POOR’
Defensor wanted all district hospitals to become “hospitals for the poor.” He promised to realize this before he finishes his third term in 2019.
Iloilo’s district hospitals are the following:
* Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial Hospital in Guimbal town
* Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian
* Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan
* Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial Hospital in Lambunao
* Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Janiuay
* Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Dumangas
* Don Valerio Palmares Memorial District Hospital in Passi City
* Barotac Viejo District Hospital
* Jesus Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan
* Sara District Hospital
* Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan
In recent years, the provincial government allotted over P1.2 billion for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the hospitals.
When provincial and district hospitals, and all tertiary health services, were devolved from the national government to the provinces when the Local Government Code took effect in 1991, the provincial government found itself saddled with the responsibility of maintaining and operating the Iloilo Provincial Hospital and 11 district hospitals.
But the provincial government “took the risk and won the bet” when it decided to convert hospitals into economic enterprises, said Defensor.
The hospitals now are self-sufficient and earning.
“We were able to do this by improving and upgrading our facilities and equipment, using not only local funds but also foreign donations under our hospital enhancement program,” said Defensor in a previous interview.
During the devolution of provincial and district hospitals, “we simply didn’t have the means to make ends meet,” he said.
“I felt sad whenever I hear our people complaining over the radio and other media outlets that they were not being attended well by our district hospitals,” said the governor.
Defensor acknowledged one of the most common complaints – the suplada (rude) staff of district hospitals such as the nurses.
“Kis-a sala ko man. Sa sobra nga dali, gin-hire dayun ang applicant nga nurse pero waay ko makuhaan sang rekomendasyon sa chief of hospital. Kon kaisa mapasulod mo, suplada gali. Ti, maayo lang kay waay ko sia na-regular, tanan ko nga empleyada contractual. Ti, kon mag-sinuplada sia mapahalin ko dayun kay tapos na kontrata ya. Kay anum man lang ka bulan,” said Defensor.
He appealed for more patience from the public.
“Ang ospital indi mo gid ma-perpekto. Sooner or later matabo gid na. Basta ang tandaan lang ninyo kay man kon kaisa bangod sang kasakuon man, indi gid man insigda ma-aksyonan ang tanan,” said Defensor.
Under the Hospital Efficiency Assurance through Reform and Transformation (HEART) Program, the provincial government continuously upgrades district hospitals so they can serve better, especially the poor, said the governor./PN
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