CCMC: No mass resignation

CEBU, Philippines -  An official of Cebu City Medical Center has clarified that only two doctors have resigned effective today while four have graduated from Residency Training Program.

Lawyer Rey Cris Panugaling, officer-in-charge for assistant chief of hospital for administrative service, said the two doctors – one surgeon (casual) and one who is specializing in internal medicine (regular) resigned to seek for greener pasture.

He said based on the resignation letters of the doctors, the surgeon planned to go abroad while the other one planned to work in a national hospital. When asked for their names and contact details, Panugaling refused to give.

He said the two doctors have notified them as early as October last year for the hospital’s administration to prepare. Panugaling said there are still 28 under RTP while there are 10 junior consultants left in the hospital.

He said at present they are hiring doctors. In fact, they are inviting those who have graduated from RTP to render around 40 hours in a week.  Panugaling assured that despite the resignation of the two doctors, hospital operation will not be affected.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he did not receive any resignation letter yet.

“I don’t know. It did not reach in my office,” Rama told The Freeman yesterday.

Rama was surprised to read in the papers about the resignation because there was no mention about it during the meeting of the city hall department heads.

Earlier, Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña told The Freeman that majority of the doctors are reportedly resigning because of the downgrading of the status of the hospital.

The Department of Health has downgraded CCMC 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.

But Rama said the doctor’s resigning from a certain hospital is just a natural situation because of their dream for greener pasture. Panugaling said the downgrading of the hospital is just on papers but they still function as a Level 3 hospital.

In fact, they will be expanding to 150-200 bed capacity.

Under DOH AO 2012-0012 Level I hospital has consulting specialists in medicine, pediatrics OB-GYNE surgery, emergency and out-patient services, isolation facilities, surgical/maternity facilities, dental clinic, secondary clinical laboratory, blood station, 1st level x-ray and pharmacy.

Level 2 hospital has the facilities the same as the level 1 plus departmentalized clinical services, respiratory unit, general ICU, high risk pregnancy unit, NICU, tertiary clinical laboratory, blood station and 2nd level x-ray with mobile unit.

While Level 3 hospital has the facilities the same as Level 2 plus teaching/training with accredited residency training program in the 4 major clinical services, physical medicine and rehabilitation unit, ambulatory surgical clinic, dialysis clinic, tertiary lab with histopathology, blood bank and 3rd level x-ray. — /FPL  (FREEMAN)