AUMENTADO |
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The
lack of doctors and inadequate facilities at the Gov.
Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) will be
the top agenda of a scheduled meeting this month between
Gov. Erico Aumentado and Health Sec. Francisco Duque
III.
The
most important government hospital in the province where
hundreds of patients are admitted and given medical
treatment, the GCGMH came underfire recently after complaints
made by some of the hospital's clients.
One patient died at the hospital last week after allegedly
being refused admittance. It was later verified by the
Chronicle that the said patient, Iza Pata, 18 years
old, did
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not
have a referral from another hospital in Cebu that initially
treated her.
The
OB-Gyne section of GCGMH took tests of the patient but did
not confine her pending the results of the laboratory tests.
While
waiting for the laboratory results, Pata, was found by one
of the hospital's personnel in a comfort room already "gasping
for breath". She was immediately brought to the emergency
room but died about 40 minutes later.
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In
an interview with the Chronicle, Chief of Hospital Dr.
Nenita Po said the patient was not confined since her
initial complaint was only "stomach pains and vomiting"
at that time although she was accommodated as an out-patient
and received preliminary check-up.
It
was only after the results of the laboratory exam that
the hospital knew Pata had malignant ovarian mass, Po
explained.
Her
death may have been caused by complication of the ovarian
mass which normally affects the lungs, according to
the hospital chief.
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Po
admitted that during that time, the OB-Gyne section had 48
patients confined while the hospital's bed capacity is only
good for 40 patients.
In
another incident, one Janet Villarojo, complained over dyRD's
top-rated Inyong Alagad of having been maltreated by the hospital's
staff including her daughter-in-law who was expecting a baby
and was admitted at the OB-Gyne ward.
According
to Villarojo, her daughter-in-law was sharing a bed with three
other patients but was not allowed to use a vacant bed since
it was already reserved for another patient.
Villarojo
asked that her patient be temporarily allowed to use the unoccupied
bed but was yelled at by one hospital staff.
She
was then forcibly dragged out of the ward by three security
men, Villarojo claimed.
After
being informed of the incident, Po assured to take action
and investigate those involved.
LACK
OF DOCTORS
The
governor vowed to intercede in behalf of the regional hospital
when he meets with Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Duque on
May 30.
Aumentado
said he will ask Po to provide him with a profile of the hospital's
personnel that needs to be filled up so he can bring the matter
to Duque during their meeting.
The
governor added that he also has a pending request with the
Veterans' Affairs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through
Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon to provide beds and
hospital equipment for a veterans' ward.
Po
explained that the hospital's Medical Section is really understaffed.
Ideally, the section alone needs 10 resident physicians but
they only have 2 at present.
The
Medical section comprises 30 percent of confinements at the
hospital and yet it only has two resident doctors, according
to Po.
Moreover,
the two physicians also have to do consultations at their
own private clinics considering the low salary in government
hospitals compared to private practitioners.
The
GCGMH, formerly Provincial Hospital, was designated by the
DOH as a regional hospital and its bed capacity was increased
to about 225 from 200.
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