CCMC doctors resigning today?

CEBU, Philippines - Majority of the doctors of the Cebu City Medical Center are reportedly resigning from the hospital today.

Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña said the possible reason is the downgrading of the hospital.

Based on earlier reports, the Department of Health downgraded the hospital to a Level 1 hospital from being a Level 2 facility.

“I think it is because na-downgrade ang CCMC because of its status. Sayang man, usik,” Osmeña said.

She said the topic was brought up during an executive session and it was never denied. When asked for specific details about it, she said at present, she has no exact information yet.

The FREEMAN tried to get the comment of CCMC chief Dr. Gloria Duterte yesterday but she had an appointment.

Calls to Councilor Lea Japson and CCMC officer-in-charge for assistant chief of hospital for administrative service Rey Cris Panugaling and Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos also went unanswered.

When asked about the issue Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has no specific information about the situation. He said he heard someone mention it but it was not clearly stated.

Osmeña, as part of the legislative branch of the city government, said she will leave this problem to the executive department.

As a result of being downgraded the hospital can no longer perform major operations.

A few months ago, the status of the temporary hospital was issued by DOH-Manila after Duterte secured a license to operate the temporary hospital and a permit to construct the new facility

“Ang space nato, it’s not an ideal facility for a hospital. We were issued a license to operate, however, gi-downgrade kita to Level 1,” Duterte said earlier.

The hospital is temporarily operating at the Bureau of Fire Protection-7 building after its old building was severely damage by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake October last year. The building was demolished last February.

Based on earlier reports, the old structure of the hospital could accommodate 300 patients. However, the temporary hospital at the BFP building can only cater to around 108.

DOH Administrative Order 2005-0029 provides that “…the hospital plan shall provide sufficient bed space for the hospital bed capacity proposed, a laboratory room, operating room, including work rooms for sterilization, anesthesia preparation, x-ray room, pharmacy, dispensary or out-patient department, delivery room, isolation room, autopsy room or morgue.”

Under the rules, a Level 1 hospital or an “Emergency hospital” may provide only initial treatment and management to patients requiring immediate treatment and primary care for prevalent diseases in the area; general medicine, pediatrics, minor surgeries, and non-surgical gynecology; primary clinical laboratory, pharmacy and first level radiology; and nursing care for patients needing minimal supervised care.

Services in a Level 2 hospital or a ‘Non-departmentalized hospital’ include general medicine, pediatrics, surgery, anesthesia, obstetrics and gynecology, first level radiology, secondary clinical laboratory, pharmacy; and nursing care for patients needing intermediate supervised care.

A Level 3 hospital or “Departmentalized hospital” provides all clinical services provided by Level 2 hospitals; specialty clinical care, tertiary clinical laboratory, pharmacy, second level radiology; and nursing care for patients needing total and intensive care.

 Lastly, a Level 4 hospital classified as a “Teaching and Training Hospital” provides clinical services provided by Level 3 hospitals; specialized forms of treatments, intensive care and surgical procedures; tertiary clinical laboratory, third-level radiology, pharmacy; and nursing care for patients needing continuous and specialized critical care.   (FREEMAN)