AN OFFICIAL of the JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH) said they will empower all the 17 health centers scattered around the city in an aim to decongest the overcrowded city hospital.
To reduce the 265-percent occupancy rate of the hospital, hospital chief Ramon Nery said they will equip the 17 health centers to allow these to conduct simple medical procedures.
"Despite the overutilization of our services, we make it a point to serve our patients the best way we can. The primary problem is waiting time, we have long lines but we are happy because it shows that the people have confidence on us and they understand our situation," Nery said.
City Health officer Fe Bongcas, for her part, said they are working hand in hand with the city hospital particularly in enhancing their laboratory services.
All of these efforts, Nery said, is geared towards making the hospital get a level 2 accreditation in 2 or 3 years.
High-tech medical facilities such as medical oxygen generator, a dialysis center, pulmonary function tests are in the pipeline and will be made possible through public-private partnerships.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno said he was grateful for the late mayor Justiniano "Tenying" Borja who envisioned the city hospital.
Mayor Borja constructed the City Hospital that was named in his honor after his death.
"Envisioning and doing are two different things, but mayor Tenying did it both. Now, the hospital may not be picture perfect but at least in a span only of 5 years, and most of it under difficult conditions, what we have achieved is totally unbelievable," Moreno said.
The JRBGH is celebrating its 55th founding anniversary with the theme "Back to the Future: Living the Dream, Crafting Tomorrow's History Today."
Meanwhile, childbirth remains the leading cause of admissions at the city hospital, records show.
In 2017, close to 8,000 mothers gave birth at the city hospital, Nery said.
Pneumonia is second in the list of the leading causes of admissions, followed by dengue fever, abortion, acute gastroentiritis, septicaemia, anemia, urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis, and hypertension, which Nery said are mostly secondary cases.
