Selling CCMC still an option says Osmeña

CEBU, Philippines – Selling the Cebu City Medical Center remains an option for the city government.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said he is still considering selling the city-operated hospital despite several improvements that has been reported about the facility.

“They can pursue what they want they are pursuing. If I will receive an offer, I will still consider,” Osmeña said.

He said he heard of several good things undertaken by the hospital the past months after he threatened to close and sell it last year due to poor performance.

“Yes I heard there’s been improvements and I also hear some people complaining patients are dying there at the Emergency Room without receiving treatment,” he said.

Among those who expressed interest to buy are Manny Pangilinan, president of Metro Pacific Holdings Inc., who wants to enter the health care industry in Cebu. 

Also expressing interest were the administrators of the University of San Carlos (USC), University of Cebu (UC) and Chong Hua Hospital.

It was earlier reported that the mayor has proposed that the buyer of the hospital must be willing to pay half of the cost of the termination fee for employees after the sale of the hospital.

Aside from that, he also suggested that the budget of the City for CCMC will now be used to cover the Philhealth insurance of indigents.

Pangilinan himself visited the hospital September last year and assured that his company is willing to pour in P1.5 billion in Cebu for a hospital.

Pangilinan, who also chairs the Philippine Long Distance Company, also owns a couple of hospitals in the country including Makati Medical Center. — Ferliza Contratista/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)