Gov’t urged to procure hospital ship

MANILA, Philippines - The government should expedite plans to purchase at least one hospital ship which could be used as a medical evacuation facility during calamities, Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said yesterday.

Sarmiento noted that after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol and Cebu, which are not accessible by land, many of those who were rescued had to be transported via small boats and then transferred to bigger ships which then brought them to hospitals.

“The process is rigorous and time-consuming. If only we had a hospital ship, the rescued victims that needed medical attention could be given emergency medical procedures, including surgeries, right there and then. We would save time, resources and a lot of people’s lives,” Sarmiento said.

The lawmaker also said that after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda, some hospitals could no longer operate so patients had to be evacuated to other areas.

“Tragic deaths and injuries caused by calamities become even more lamentable because of the absence of adequate, safe and well-equipped medical facilities which could have been otherwise avoided if there is a hospital ship which can be deployed in calamity areas,” he added.

Sarmiento further noted that the hospital ship can be also used for medical missions in remote islands and barangays, most of which do not even have a single medical professional to attend to the medical needs of residents.

He said Philippine Navy officials said his proposal to acquire hospital ships has been included in the Navy’s modernization plan and would be part of their priority program, following the approval of the law extending the P75-billion Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

The Philippine Navy is set to acquire two strategic sealift vessels, which could be transformed into multi-role naval assets and among its core functions would be to serve as a quick response med-evac facility during crisis situations, Sarmiento said.

These vessels will not just have enough room for makeshift hospital beds, medical emergency care and surgical facility but would also have two helipads for search and rescue choppers and air ambulances, he added.