Pangasinan SP endorses upgrading of community hospital

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=912227
• Wednesday, August 10, 2016

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 10 (PNA) -- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has endorsed to the Department of Health (DOH) the upgrading of the Umingan Community Hospital (UCH) from 15 to 25-bed capacity.

The endorsement was contained in Provincial Board Resolution No. 66-2016 introduced by Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Rosario, chairman of the committee on health, during the SP session on August 8.

The provincial resolution was needed being a requirement of DOH in order to facilitate the issuance of the permit to construct or upgrade the health facility, said Rosario, a former Assistant Provincial Health Officer.

He said upgrading is necessary to justify the appointment of additional workforce to the facility.

The board member noted that based on the 15-bed capacity of UCH for the past several years, its hospital staff are primarily overworked, considering the big number of patients that it serves which surpasses its DOH-approved bed capacity.

According to UCH chief Julian Rose, Jr., the number of their patients increased significantly by 220 percent over those registered in 2015.

Dr. Rose admitted that the increase of UCH’s bed capacity would result in corresponding increase of its manpower and services.

The resolution further stated that the upgrading would provide a sufficient and higher level of medical and health services to patients.

Rosario said the upgrading of UCH is in line with the main thrust of the provincial government led by Governor Amado I. Espino, III to have a mass-based health care program to accommodate all people especially the less fortunate sector of the society.

The UCH, along with the Eastern Pangasinan Disreict Hospital, caters to patients coming from the different municipalities in the 6th district of Pangasinan and other areas.