Benhur mulls closing Daanbantayan district hospital

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon considers the closure of Daanbantayan District Hospital for alleged improper treatment given by hospital personnel to patients using health cards.

 Indigent patients using health cards issued under the health program of the congressman are reportedly asked by hospital personnel to purchase medicines, and even cotton balls, using their own money. This despite bills issued, every now and then, by the hospital to the office of Salimbangon, requesting reimbursement of expenses “incurred by patients with Benhur Health Cards under the Benhur Health Program.”  

 One of Salimbangon’s liaisons said that there were times that the said billing even exceeded by P100,000 in a month.

 Some patients said that only their stay in the hospital was made free “as if the hospital is engaging in room rental business or lodging houses.”

 Sometime last year, Salimbangon and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia inked a Memorandum of Agreement which stated that the former shall set aside funds for the Daanbantayan District Hospital while the hospital provides free medicines and services to patients who have Benhur health cards. Garcia entered into the said agreement on behalf of the provincial government which has jurisdiction over district hospitals.

 The MOA provided that each patient can avail of a maximum of P5,000 for a minor operation or P10,000 for a major operation.

 The matter might have not reached the governor yet, Salimbangon said, so he will first bring the concern up before Dr. Cristina Giango, provincial health officer.

 He will also check the billings if the amounts specified in there were actually spent for the patients.

 Salimbangon said that related concerns reaching him are already mounting up.

 Earlier, Capitol proposed closure of the Daanbantayan District Hospital to maximize resources at the neighboring Severo Verallo District Hospital in Bogo. — Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)