Cebu Provincial Hospital–Carcar now performs major surgeries

CEBU, Philippines - From a ramp fronting the operation room, medical personnel can be seen preparing the armamentarium as patients are scheduled for operation later that day.

This will now be the usual scenario at the Cebu Provincial Hospital–Carcar as it has started performing major surgical procedures yesterday after its status was upgraded to level one.

The major operations include, among others, appendectomy for the removal of appendix, myomectomy for fibroids in the uterus, thyroidectomy for thyroid gland, modified radical mastectomy for the breast, cholecystectomy for the gallbladder, hernia surgery, and caesarian.

The Department of Health granted in April this year the level one status to CPH-Carcar along with nine other provincial and district hospitals.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said the status upgrade will help indigents living in far-flung towns.

"We are happy to announce that finally, our provincial hospitals, beginning with Carcar City, now have surgical capability. In our own little way,  maminusan ang mga pasyente sa neighboring towns nga di na dad-on sa Vicente Sotto (Memorial Medical Center here in Cebu City)," said Davide during the launching of the major surgical procedures at CPH-Carcar yesterday.

Davide said the province will hire more permanent surgeons to man the hospitals especially those which have already been upgraded to level one.

Other hospitals which status were upgraded are the provincial hospitals in the cities of Bogo and Danao, and the district hospitals in Bantayan, Barili, Badian, Tuburan, San Francisco, Argao and Sogod.

Davide said the development is part of the province's pursuit to improve provincial government-run hospitals to at least level one status since some are still in the primary care level. There are 16 government-run hospitals in the province.

Olivia Dandan, CHP-Carcar Chief of Hospital, said the hospital also has diplomat surgeons and more than 50 nurses.

Dandan hopes that the current status of the facility will be sustained and eventually be elevated to level two by next year.

In order to attain the second level, CPH-Carcar has to establish an intensive care unit with the necessary equipment.

"Naa na mi ICU bed, gamay na lang kuwang nga equipment. 50 beds pa man gud ta, so we are working on 100," Dandan said.

At least P6 million has been earmarked by the province this year for the expenses needed in upgrading the operating rooms and the purchase of X-ray machines.

Davide added that the province will also acquire dialysis machines.— Michael Vencynth H. Braga/NSA (FREEMAN)