THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) needs P2.5 billion to rehabilitate Cebu’s health care system, but its proposed budget for next year is P550 million.
The Capitol’s entire budget, though, is P3.6 billion. If it allocates the amount the PHO is asking, other government services will suffer, said Dr. Rene Catan of the PHO.
The PHO already got the biggest chunk of Capitol’s 2016 budget with P433 million.
Provincial Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, though, assured that the P2.5 billion Catan is asking for is possible during Davide’s term.
Focus
He said Catan’s main focus is for the four provincial hospitals to reach Level 2 and the remaining 12 district hospitals to follow.
The four provincial hospitals are in Bogo, Danao, Carcar and Balamban.
Once the provincial hospitals are upgraded to Level 2, these will have four additional departments: general surgery, ob-gyne, medicine and pediatrics.
The Capitol will also hire additional specialists and consultants after the upgrade.
In a related development, Gov. Hilario Davide III gave service awards to 140 doctors and hospital personnel who have worked in provincial hospitals for 30 years and above.
After the ceremony, reporters interviewed Catan on his vision for Capitol’s hospitals.
Of the total health care annual budget, P200 million is for capital outlay, Catan said, and only P133 million is available. The balance will follow.
“But I believe we can focus on one hospital this year and then take on the other hospitals in the coming years,” Catan said.
He said the P200-million capital outlay will be concentrated in the provincial hospitals in Danao and Carcar, but the PHO’s main focus is Carcar.
He said Carcar Provincial Hospital takes care of patients from southern towns, while the Danao Provincial Hospital attends to patients from northern towns and islands.
Outside assistance
By improving services in these two facilities, emergency patients can save on travel time since they no longer need to endure Cebu City traffic to seek medical attention, Catan said.
“And why are we not worried about revenues because once the Carcar hospital earns, PhilHealth will sustain it,” Catan said.
Once that happens, he said, Capitol funds will be distributed to other district hospitals.
The Bogo Provincial Hospital, he said, is getting financial help from legislators, including Sen. Riza Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health.
The Department of Health’s Health Facility Enhancement Program also granted the hospital P30 million.
Catan cited Bogo’s unique location, catering to the neighboring islands of Masbate, Negros Oriental, Maasin in Southern Leyte, among others.
