Osmeña mulls closure of city-funded hospital

CEBU CITY — Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he would close the 37-year-old Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), which is beleaguered with poor services and recently hounded by controversies. He, however, did not say when.

In his regular press conference the other day, Osmeña said, "I am looking at the option of closing CCMC," the very hospital that his father, Serging, built in 1965, also during his incumbency as mayor.

The mayor’s announcement came following a public outcry when four CCMC nurses were pulled out and placed on detail in a private hospital to attend to councilor Gabriel Leyson who was confined for leg fractures.

Operations of the city hospital have been under the auspices of councilor Christopher Alix, who chairs the city council’s committee on hospital and health services.

While Osmeña did not categorically say that he was not satisfied with Alix’s performance, he said he wants "drastic changes" in the hospital’s operations.

"I will begin to take a direct control of the management of CCMC. I just want to spend more time at CCMC until we close it or straighten it out," he said.

Osmeña’s announcement, however, has drawn mixed reactions.

"Wala ta’y mahimo kon mao na ang gusto sa mayor (What can we do? It’s the mayor’s wish)," said CCMC chief Lydia Salarda in an interview over radio station dyLA.

City health officer Felicitas Manaloto, however, said Osmeña should give the hospital personnel another chance to prove their efficiency. She also suggested that they be given training to update and hone their skills.

Councilor Carmen Piramide said the closure of CCMC should be considered only as a final option.

A comprehensive feasibility and technical study will have to be made on the planned CCMC closure. This early, however, Osmeña has seriously considered diverting the intended budget for the hospital to enlist the city’s poor residents under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Under this proposal, PhilHealth will shoulder part of the hospital expenses of members when confined in private hospitals.

Councilor Manuel Legaspi, a member of the city council’s committee on hospital and health services, said should this proposal push through, a study must be made to identify deserving beneficiaries who can avail themselves of the PhilHealth program.

CCMC has a 200-bed capacity, serving an average of 172 patients daily. The city has allocated P101 million for the hospital’s operational expenses and salaries of its 352 personnel. — Freeman News Service