Deaths inevitable in hospital – Davide

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III cried foul over his political rival’s alleged taking advantage of the deaths of patients at Capitol-run hospitals for political propaganda.

The governor said that deaths in hospital are inevitable but his detractors are allegedly riding on the issue.

“Everybody knows nga sa ospital duna gyoy mamatay. Deaths happen. Any death mahitabo, we are always concerned, we sympathize with the families who have lost their loved ones. But we have to check the facts; they are making political capital out of this… I am sure nga ila ning gigamit to put this administration down,” Davide told reporters.

He added that several deaths in hospitals might have been recorded before his administration but were not made known since “nobody took advantage and make them as political issues.”

“Maglagot ta no kay katong sa una nato nga campaign, we never take up kining pagkamatay sa hospitals,” he said.

Davide expressed his displeasure after a series of reports about the alleged negligence of medical staff in several district hospitals resulting in the loss of lives. He assured that something has been done about it.

According to Davide, the Provincial Health Office is currently investigating the series of deaths in Capitol-owned hospitals that were blamed on the alleged negligence of hospital staff. The most recent of which was the death of a four-month old in Barili District Hospital.

The family of the patient blamed the nurses for allegedly failing to immediately check on the health condition of the patient. The death of the child reached the media through text messages.

Last month, a Facebook post of “NEVER AGAIN” account reported the death of a public school teacher in Tuburan town whose case was blamed on expired insulin administered to her at Tuburan District Hospital. The PHO has not given a report yet on the incident.

There were also reported deaths at Minglanilla District Hospital. The most controversial was that of one-year-old Mary Jane Bariquit who allegedly died because the hospital failed to provide medicine for free.

Davide said the Capitol has already dismissed the doctor for committing “lapse in judgment” in dealing with the patient.

The Capitol found out that the doctor immediately prescribed medicines and asked the family to buy them outside when these are available at the hospital’s pharmacy.  (FREEMAN)