VSMMC denies coercion claims

CEBU, Philippines — Contrary to reports some of them were allegedly coerced, the hospital chief of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center yesterday said the healthcare workers sent to the National Capital Region Plus “willfully, bravely and heroically offered themselves to serve fellow Filipinos.”

“Any allegations or rumors that deliberately embarrassed and maligned these efforts and services are condemned and cannot be tolerated by this institution,” said Aquino in a statement posted on the VSMMC Facebook page.

“In fact, when the call for volunteers was made, a number of Sottonians wanted to be part of the team. This shows that our shared ways of thinking, coupled with our core values, are strong and apparent no matter what circumstances we are in. We are happy, tireless, and passionate healthcare professionals,” he added.

Aquino said that the VSMMC sent five doctors and 20 nurses “in response to the urgent call to serve and deliver the torch of the Visayas bayanihan spirit.”

All in all, Cebu has sent 50 healthcare workers to help the overwhelmed public hospitals in NCR+, namely the National Kidney Transplant Institute, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, Rizal Medical Center and Tondo Medical Center.

Earlier, Joseph Descallar, the incumbent governor of the Philippine Nurses Association-Central Visayas, said that there were nurses who were forced to join the NCR mission.

DOH-7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas have separately denied the claim.

DOH-7 and OPAV led the initiative of sending nurses and doctors to NCR Plus to answer the call of Senator Bong Go to help the overwhelmed hospitals in NCR and other provinces in Luzon with high cases of COVID-19.

Aquino thanked the efforts of OPAV and DOH, concerned local government units and various groups for what he described was a “laudable program that is grounded in humanity and their heroes into action.”

Aquino added that they continue to communicate with and monitor their “heroes”  in NCR Plus.

“With VSMMC’s shared identity, we always believe that we need each other for the developments and enhancement of our healthcare system for the promotion of health and well-being for every Filipino,” the hospital chief said.  — JMD (FREEMAN)