VSMMC to be corporate in mgmt structure only

CEBU, Philippines - "Corporatization of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City is not privatization."

This was explained by Dr. Joseph Al Alesna, the chief of the Surgical Department and of the Office of the Special Concerns of VSMMC, to alleviate concerns over the recent developments at the hospital.

Alesna explained that corporatization in the Department of Health will only be limited to the management structure of the hospital, which means VSMMC will now be run by an executive committee headed by the hospital director.

"There are people who will decide. Unlike the approach before wherein the chief of hospital is the only one to decide," said Alesna during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

One of the advantages Alesna has cited in a corporate structure is that what is agreed at the top will go down to the lowest level and that every department head will have to execute what is being ordered from higher up.

Alesna also assured that corporatization will not deprive poor and indigent patients of medical services.

Following the universal health program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), indigent families shall be enrolled.

"VSMMC is now given by PhilHealth the authority to enroll those who are not PhilHealth members yet. The hospital is now called point of care institution," Alesna said.

He also announced that the hospital was given a deadline to be accredited with the International Standardization Organization to provide global standard of services.

"Hopefully we will be accredited in the ISO, the services given would be comparable internationally," Alesna added.

Unlike other government-owned and controlled corporations, VSMMC will still get its funding from the national government, particularly for the personnel services, and the maintenance and other operating expenses, said Alesna.  (FREEMAN)