Ospital ng Muntinlupa ordered to offer free services

MANILA, Philippines - Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro has issued an executive order that provides for the city-owned Ospital ng Muntinlupa to extend low-cost or even free services to residents in need of medical attention.

Through the order, San Pedro created a management committee to draw up plans, programs and strategies on how the hospital can be developed into a more responsive health-care provider that is self-sustaining, efficient and effective in the delivery of health services.

“The cost of private hospital care keeps getting more expensive, thus becoming unaffordable for poor residents. The Ospital ng Muntinlupa will be used to enhance the delivery of health services that is responsive to the needs of our people,” San Pedro said.

Dr. Edilinda Garcia-Patac, officer-in-charge of the city health office and concurrent health policy and management director of the Ospital ng Muntinlupa, noted several problems that are affecting the operation of the hospital.

She said the hospital doesn’t have enough funds to be used in providing medical services, and has a poor system of patient records.

In addition, Patac said the hospital needs more modern medical equipment, including CT scan and dialysis machines.

“The hospital also lacks a system for proper disposal of used medical supplies and is in need of additional doctors and nurses.” San Pedro said these problems hamper the operation of the hospital, which in turn, result in poor services for residents.

“Unless we correct these problems, the hospital will end up as a medical center that has very limited services to offer. We don’t want this to happen,” he said.

The management committee is tasked to introduce innovative concepts that will make it possible for the hospital to provide free or low-cost services. It will also develop programs that will enable the hospital to offer advanced medical technology to residents at minimal cost.  – Rhodina Villanueva