By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
THE city council’s health committee on Friday put on hold the proposal to approve 48 new positions in the city hallun JR Borja Memorial General Hospital even as councilors gave its officials a mouthful because of the delay in the construction of an intensive care unit there.
Councilor Lourdes Gaane, the committee chairperson, said the request for the approval of 48 city hospital positions would cost the local government P25.2 million every year, and yet the hospital still has no ICU despite an approved budget.
“Maulaw ta nga mag-approve kita og dugang nga empleyado, and then kulang ang atong serbisyo,” Gaane said.
She said the health committee wants those running the hospital to prioritize the improvement of hospital facilities and equipment rather than hiring more employees.
Councilor Reuben Daba, the committee’s vice chairman, said the hospital failed to provide an ICU department despite a P120-million budget approved in August 2016.
“Sad to say, the budget was approved last year and yet, it remains a dream. Sad to say, we really need that ICU,” Daba said.
He said the budget for the ICU was requested by city hospital chief Dr. Ramon Nery, and it was approved but after almost a year, the hospital still has no ICU.
“Naulawan kami tungod kay this committee asked other members of the city council to support and approve [the request for the budget] so we could answer the needs of the people. Pero what happened? Until now wala gihapon,” Daba said.
He said the city council also approved funds for the acquisition of ICU facilities “but there are no equipment until now.”
“Unya karon unahon ang mga plantilla? Grabe kaayo maulaw ta,” he said.
Hospital representative Amelia Mibon told the committee that the request for more positions is part of efforts to elevate the hospital category to “Level 2.”
“We are catering 300 to 400 patients and outpatients per day, and we need more personnel. ‘Departmentalized’ na dayun kita,” Mibon said.
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