Rama against VSMMC transfer

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama expressed opposition to the Department of Health (DOH)’s plan to transfer the provincial hospital to Jagobiao, Mandaue City.

Rama said the proposed new location of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center will be unfair to residents coming from the South.

“Ako nang giingnan si Secretary Ona (Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona) about that. I told him it will not be best to transfer the hospital there,” Rama said.

The proposal to transfer VSMMC to Eversley Child Sanitarium in Jagobiao, Mandaue has been topics of debates for some time now.

But DOH-7 officials said there has been no communication from Manila about it.

Rama said that Cebu City is the best location for the hospital because it is in the middle of the whole Cebu Island and is accessible to both Northern and Southern Cebu residents.

“Basin wala pa muabot didto ang pasyente, patay na, (Patients may die even before getting to Eversley.)” Rama said.

Jagobiao is a barangay in Mandaue City, some 10 kilometers from Cebu City and a barangay before Consolacion.

To get there, one must pass through the north road. The Eversley Child Sanitarium, another DOH-run hospital, is several meters from the north road accessible via a motorcycle or tricycle if commuting.

“Unsa man, naa ta’y cable car padulong didto? Naa’y LRT didto para paspas ang byahe? These are the things they have to consider.(Do we have cable cars leading there? Is there an LRT for faster travel?)” Rama said.

He said that even in Mandaue City, the traffic congestion is a major problem.

Transferring VSMMC to Eversley is also one of the options discussed by Congressman Tomas who earlier said taking over the said facility is an option to be considered as Rama is planning to expand the Cebu City Medical Center.  (FREEMAN)