P4.45 million for indigent patients

By CYRUS M. GARDE

BACOLOD City — Nine provincial government-run hospitals will be given a total of P4.45 million to provide free hospitalization to poorest of the poor patients.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved the additional Point of Care Program fund during its session the other day.

Point of Care Program funds are used for the hospitalization of indigent patients who are automatically enrolled in PhilHealth upon admission in government hospitals.

Each of the following hospitals will receive P1 million: Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City, Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City and Vicente Gustilo District Hospital in Escalante City.

Gov. Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital will receive P500,000, while Valladolid District Hospital and Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela will get P300,000 each.

Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial Hospital in La Carlota City will be given P150,000, while Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital in Hinobaan and Calatrava District Hospital will receive P100,000 each.

Miller Serondo, chair of the SP committee on health, said the Point of Care Fund will be sourced from the revolving fund for drugs and medicines under the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD).

He said the said district hospitals were running out of Point of Care Program funds.

Dr. Romulo Rhoel Mogul, head of EEDD’s Hospital Operations Division, requested for the additional funding.

Indigent patients confined in government hospitals are also automatically be enrolled in the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program, Serondo said.

Launched in 2010, the program aims to address the health needs of indigent residents of the province. (With a report from PNA/PN)