BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government-run Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City, Negros Occidental is now offering additional medical services.
It now has a licensed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) including a neonatal, high risk pregnancy, pulmonary, and pediatric units, according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
The provincial hospital is also now classified as a secondary-level hospital by the Department of Health (DOH).
Lacson said the additional medical services at TLJPH will benefit more Negrenses.
Earlier on June 29 of this year, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11890, or an act increasing the capacity of the hospital from 100 beds to 300, and appropriating funds for its operations.
Section 4 of the law mandates the provincial government of Negros Occidental to provide the necessary funds to cover the maintenance and other operating expenses of the TLJPH.
“It shall also appropriate funds for the additional human resource complement to support the increase in bed capacity and the corresponding upgrading of its facilities and professional health care services,” the law stated.
It further added the DOH shall include in its subsidy program support for the capital outlay requirements of the TLJPH.
Lacson also said their next target is Level 3 status, and once they are successful at TLJPH, they will target to improve the other provincial government-run hospitals such as the Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City and the Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City.
Level 3 hospitals refer to health facilities selected to provide tertiary hospital services, and have training programs for doctors, rehabilitation and dialysis units.
A large majority of the Level 3 hospitals in the country are located in Metro Manila only./PN
