Upgrading of Talisay district hospital sought

Councilor Shirley Belleza yesterday said she will file a resolution on Thursday asking Rep. Eduardo Gullas to upgrade the Talisay District Hospital, the current status of which she criticized as just a little higher than a barangay health center.

"Ang atong services sa hospital maguwang ra gyud sa (our hospital services are just a bit better than the services of a) barangay health center," said Belleza, adding that Gullas should upgrade it.

The national government-maintained hospital runs with the annual budget of P9.27-million but Belleza said the largest chunk of it, or P8.3-million, goes to the salaries and wages of its 82 employees, including their benefits.

Only P194,379 goes to direct patient care and the rest goes to operating expenses such as power, telephone, vehicles and building maintenance, she said.

There are five resident doctors and 43 nurses but people have been complaining that most of the patients are referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

"There is very limited supply of medicine in our hospital," Councilor Alan Bucao said disclosing his plan to ask Mayor Socrates Fernandez to provide financial assistance to the hospital for it to meet the demands for medicines for the rising number of patients.

Hospital chief Manuel Bacaresa said a total of 1,935 patients were admitted to the hospital last year. At present it is a 10-bed general hospital but the average daily admission has already reached 15.

The lack of medicine for patients has prompted the hospital to refer even minor cases to VSSMC for treatment.

Bacaresa said the management even has to resort to charging patients for X-rays, circumcision, and laboratory fees as additional sources to sustain the operation of the hospital.

It is now up to the local government unit to allocate some amount to help the hospital's operation and maintenance expenses, said Bacaresa.

Belleza has high hopes however to turn the situation around, saying, "The upgrading of the hospital would mean better medical services to the public especially the indigents."