BACOLOD City – Due to losses in its operations, two district hospitals owned by the provincial government of Negros Occidental will be taken over by local government units (LGUs) next month.
These were the Calatrava District Hospital (CDH) in Calatrava town and Vicente Gustilo District Hospital (VGDH) in Escalante City.
Mariano Antonio Cui III, provincial consultant for hospital operations, said the transfer of operations of these hospitals will ensure “maximum health services to residents and neigh boring places.”
According to Cui, the 11 capitol-run hospitals, including the CDH and VGDH, incurred about P520 million losses in their operations, compelling the provincial government to let go the two hospitals.
Based on the turnover agreement, both Calatrava and Escalante City will receive
70 percent subsidy from the provincial government for hospital operations. The remaining 30 percent will be paid by the two LGUs.
But Cui explained the CDH and VGDH can operate 90 percent and will cater only patients with minor cases due to lack of medicine and medical equipment.
“Once turned over, the LGUs can hire their own hospital staff, while nurses and other employees under the provincial government will be assigned to the remaining hospitals owned by the province,” Cui said.
Cui further said that both district hospitals are being regarded as similar to “sugarcane hauling stations” that when patients are brought there for serious and intensive care, they are immediately referred to either the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City or the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in this City. /PN
