Go happy that local hospital bills finally approved on 2nd reading

Thirteen bills aimed at improving, developing or establishing public hospitals in different parts of the country have passed second reading in the Senate on May 25 and 26, despite the word war between the sponsor, Senator Bong Go, and Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon.

Go, chair of the Senate health committee, sponsored the bills recognizing the urgent need to upgrade health facilities throughout the country amid the challenges brought by the pandemic.

“Pinaghirapan nating maipasa ito para sa kapakanan ng mahihirap nating mga kababayan,” Go said.

These measures include bills increasing the bed capacity of Lying-in Clinic in Rizal Palawan; Naguilian District Hospital in Naguilian, La Union; Rosario District Hospital in Rosario, La Union; Sinait District Hospital in Sinait, Ilocos Sur; East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City; and the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Misamis Occidental.

Other bills that passed second reading include measures establishing the Bacolod City General Hospital in Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Eastern Pangasinan Regional Medical and Trauma Center in Rosales, Pangasinan; Davao Occidental General Hospital in Malita, Davao Occidental; and the Neptali Gonzales Hospital in Mandaluyong City.

Bills converting the Medina Extension Hospital in Medina, Misamis Oriental into a general hospital; and the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital into the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital also passed second reading.

Another bill increasing the bed capacity of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City also hurdled the second reading in the Senate plenary.

In a sponsorship speech for the measures on May 17, Go said that the Covid-19 pandemic has made government more cognizant of the need to capacitate and improve our public health facilities.

“Lalo na po sa mga probinsya na talagang kulang na kulang ang mga health facilities. Sa pag-iikot ko po sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa, nakita ko po mismo ang kakulangan natin sa hospital beds at equipment. Minsan po ang mga pasyente sa hospital corridor na nakaratay. Kawawa po ang ating mga kababayan,” Go said.

He also noted that the need to increase hospital bed capacity of most public hospitals has been a challenge during the public health crisis, prompting authorities to establish modular hospitals.

“Ngayong pandemya, problema natin ang kakulangan natin sa hospital beds, particularly ICU beds. Kinakailangan po nating mag-impose ng mas mahigpit na community quarantine restrictions para makahinga ang ating health system,” he said.

“Kinailangan rin po natin magtayo ng temporary facilities and modular hospitals for COVID-19 cases. Ayaw na po natin maulit na darating tayo sa punto na wala nang kama na available para sa may sakit. Dapat po ay laging handa ang ating mga pampublikong ospital na magserbisyo sa mga pasyente,” he added.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)