CCMC needs more funds

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Medical Center is in need of more funds in view of an increasing number of dengue patients.

Since January this year up to mid-August, the number of dengue cases recorded by the City Health Department has reached 1,000 - an alarming 29 percent increase compared to last year's number of cases during the same period. Fatality rate remains at 10.

The incidence rate is at 5.14 which means that in every 1000 population, five are afflicted with the dengue disease.

In CCMC alone, from January to June this year, the hospital has already admitted 238 children and 50 adults afflicted with dengue. The number does not include hundreds of patients who stay at the dengue observation room.

As ordered by then Mayor Tomas Osmeña, CCMC is giving free medication to dengue-stricken residents as well as free laboratory tests and confinement.

Osmeña had allocated P5 million in addition to the regular P84 million budget for the operation of CCMC, for the purchase of medicines, and to cover the expenses for the laboratory tests.

Last year, CCMC spent P5 million for 925 patients who were confined.

CCMC chief of hospital Myrna Go told the council yesterday that the hospital needs additional funds for the purchase of medicines, such as dextrose and fluids, the supply being low.

Due to the surge of patients at the CCMC, there was even a time that the hospital was forced to implement twin sharing where two patients share the same bed.

Go said they had an emergency purchase recently to acquire the lacking medicines using the hospital's regular funds but she said that they could not always rely on the regular funds since they have other operations that need funding.

The Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council approved a resolution recommending the appropriation of P6.4 million for CCMC and CHD for the purchase of medicines, medical supplies and laboratory reagents and for the activities and preventive measures to fight dengue such as curtain impregnation, blood typing, and masterlisting. (FREEMAN)