Workers, patients ask DOH to suspend Eversley hospital executives

CEBU, Philippines – Medical personnel, persons affected with leprosy and residents of six sitios in the Eversley Childs Sanitarium compound in Mandaue City yesterday held a protest at the regional office of the Department of Health to demand for the immediate preventive suspension of the hospital's chief and chief of clinics.

Members of the Eversley Childs Sanitarium Employees Union are accusing Sanitarium chief Dr. Primo Joel Alvez and chief of clinics Dr. Joanri Riveral of mismanagement, grave misconduct, violation of reasonable office rules and regulations, inefficiency, incompetence in the performance of official duties, oppression and poor treatment of persons affected with leprosy, among others.

They also demanded for the immediate installation of a new officer-in-charge in the hospital who they could work with to resolve the current problems the sanitarium is facing.

The workers' union, headed by Nancy Roma-Sabuero, presented their demands to Health Undersecretary Dr. David Lozada, Jr. during his visit to Cebu City yesterday.

In a meeting with Lozada, both the workers and the hospital management agreed that no one would be removed from the hospital and that they will work harmoniously and treat the patients well.

However, the workers said that the moment they see any violation by the hospital officials of the agreement, the union will make a report and pass it to the DOH for the immediate termination of the officials.

Aside from the ones already mentioned, the workers, in a statement, said that the hospital is facing problems like operating beyond its license to operate of 50 beds with its current 105 general bed capacity, thereby causing the wastage of hospital funds.

Likewise, union members claimed that Alvez hired 89 job order workers without following proper procedures and papers so that they have not received their salaries for the month of July. The sanitarium is allowed only to hire a number of job order workers corresponding to the ceiling of P400,000 of the maintenance and other operating expenses.

They also disclosed that Alvez failed to renew the PhilHealth accreditation of the hospital and it has only until December 2010 to work for the renewal of the same.

The ECSEU also said that there is need to improve the services of the hospital for the persons with Hansen's disease like the retention of 53 beds in the infirmary for patients with reactions to leprosy drugs or skin ulcers which presently is also used as medical ward, the discharge committee that evaluate patients with leprosy be reactivated and essential medicines and medical care should be provided at all times for patients with leprosy. (THE FREEMAN)