LOG IN. UPLOAD PICTURES.
The Philippines has Maletsky Mart to help propagate the Chavacano Language.
Cebu state-run hospital offers free emergency services starting Sept.
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=920735
- Wednesday, September 7, 2016
- (PNA), CVL/EB/EBP
CEBU CITY, Sept. 7 (PNA) -- The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu’s biggest state-run hospital, will provide free services for patients with emergency cases starting this month, an official said.
Dr. Gerardo Aquino, VSMMC chief, said the free emergency services program, which began Sept. 1, is estimated to cost PHP5 million a month.
The free services in the emergency department include laboratory fees and the cost of medicine and procedures, he said.
Aquino issued Hospital Order No. 1216, series of 2016 last Aug. 23, in line with the health agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.
He said changes were adopted to heed President Duterte’s order to reduce long lines in government offices and facilities.
These changes are taking place amid familiar challenges, such as overcrowding, which sometimes means that patients’ beds are placed in hallways and lobbies.
“Our policy is to accept all patients who want to be admitted. We don’t say no to incoming patients because we want them to get well even if they have to be accommodated anywhere inside the hospital,” Aquino said.
He noted that the hospital had 1,200 personnel when its capacity was 500 beds.
The hospital still has the same number of personnel after its capacity was increased 1,200 beds, he said.
Aquino said the hospital often serves more patients than it has beds for.
“To alleviate the situation, we expanded the services of the Out-Patient Department (OPD) from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.,” he said.
Aquino said that from January to June this year, the hospital also provided PHP209 million worth of quantified free services (QFS) for all patients.
These services amounted to PHP229.8 million in 2013; PHP199.7 million in 2014; and PHP311.6 million in 2015.
Aquino said these services account for about 25 percent of the total bills and the rest are paid for by other agencies, among them the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and medical assistance.