EAMC inaugurates expanded and modernized auditorium

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=839511
• Saturday, December 19, 2015

By Leilani S. Junio [(PNA), SCS/LSJ/RSM]

MANILA, Dec. 18 (PNA) -- East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), a government hospital in Quezon City, inaugurated on Friday its new and modernized auditorium as part of the efforts in bringing the universal health care program of the Aquino administration a reality for the Filipino people.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. and EAMC Medical Director Dr. Roland L. Cortez. They were joined by DOH Assistant Secretary for Technical Services Gerardo Bayugo, who represented Health Secretary Janette L. Garin.

The inauguration was held at the 7th Floor of the building wherein the newly renovated and expanded hospital auditorium was put up with a wellness garden conducive for the patients and relatives of patient coming to the hospital.

The auditorium will serve not only as a place for big gatherings but for the continuous training and capacity building of hospital personnel so that they can serve the patients better.

The wellness garden, on the other hand, is a good place also for contemplation among the hospital clients.

Dr. Cortez said they have chosen to name the renovated and expanded auditorium as “Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. Auditorium" in recognition of Belmonte's vast contribution to the enhancement and improvement of the services and facilities of the hospital.

In the marker of the auditorium, the House Speaker has been cited as the one who backed up the passage of Republic Act No. 8345 that led to the increase in the bed capacity of the hospital from 350 to 600 beds.

Aside from that, Dr. Cortez said that Belmonte had been active also in implementing the Sagip Buhay (SB) Program that provided quality patient care to indigents when he was still a mayor of Quezon City.

The Speaker's support in the congressional budget for the upgrade and improvement of the various facilities and medical equipment of the hospital was also recognized by the medical center chief.

For his part, Belmonte humbly accepted the naming of the auditorium after him.

The House Speaker also lauded Dr. Cortez's efforts in the gradual improvement of the hospital.

“Roland (Dr. Cortez) was the first to look for aggressive financing from every source and have that imagination to think that EAMC can be the showcase of the health services of the government,” Belmonte said.

He noted that the efforts exerted by Cortez were reflective of the philosophy and vision of President Benigno S. Aquino III to bring universal health care nationwide so that the people will have access to the health services they truly deserve.

DOH Assistant Secretary Gerardo Bayugo, on the other hand, said that they at the DOH are proud of what EAMC has achieved in comparison with its condition before.

“It’s a day to be proud… Natutuwa ako dahil ang EAMC ay hindi nagpahuli at napatunayan na sila ay magandang haligi ng paggagamot at comparable with other internationally recognized health facilities,” Bayugo said.

Bayugo noted that EAMC has attained international caliber with its ISO Certification Standard 9001.

He said that the DOH is really proud that the EAMC can serve as a model to other hospitals nationwide to emulate in terms of the facilities and services that it is now currently offering.

“Ito po ay di mangyayari kung di sinuportahan ng ating mahal na Speaker,” the Health official said in his speech.

He also cited the dedication and leadership of Cortez in the growth and improvement of the hospital as he managed to bring the hospital into a level where it belongs right now.

With the improvement now seen, he said the EAMC can be a tool to erase the old image of a government hospital without adequate facilities and could not meet local and international standards.

At present, the hospital is equipped with modernized eye center facility, skin derma clinic, snoring center, new laboratories, dental health center, trauma, oxygen production plant, new wards and birthing rooms, among others, with well-paid health care professionals.

There are no long lines anymore when paying to the cashiers because of its modernized system in the presence of electronic numbering of clients to be served in different payment windows.

Inquiries about PhilHealth services are also facilitated via putting of PhilHealth inquiry facilities within the lobby of the hospital to ease up the burden of seeking information.

The EAMC was formerly known as GSIS General Hospital established in 1969. In 1978, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1411, it was transformed to Hospital ng Bagong Lipunan (HBL) and transferred to the then Ministry of Health.

During the time of President Corazon C. Aquino, the HBL was renamed as East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in 1986.

For a long time, the hospital could be considered neglected and lacking in modernized infrastructures. The morale of its staff was also considered low due to lack of incentives and there was no other way then but to go out because of poor pay or even lack of it.

Things began to change in time of Dr. Cortez as they came out with development plans which were later supported by various partners and backed up with laws through the initiative of Speaker Belmonte that led to where the EAMC is right now.