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DOH awaits result of referendum among staff and health workers of Fabella Hospital on its transfer
By Leilani S. Junio
MANILA, June 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday it is awaiting for the result of a referendum among officials and employees of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila regarding its modernization which involves its transfer and redevelopment.

The hospital -- a national maternity hospital -- is a maternal and newborn tertiary government hospital located in Santa Cruz District, Manila.

Under the proposed modernization plan, if the referendum will yield a favorable “yes” answer, the pregnant patients will be transferred and accommodated at a new location within the DOH compound along Rizal Avenue, also in Santa Cruz, by May 2017.

As a fully functional hospital, all incoming patients as well as the health workers and staff of Fabella Hospital will then be transferred there together with all the equipment.

Since the construction of facilities at the new location is still ongoing, some other government hospitals will be accommodating temporarily the Fabella patients as well as the health workers that will be attending to them.

Some of the possible locations being eyed for the gradual transfer are the UP-Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, San Lazaro Hospital and National Center for Geriatric Health.

However, if the referendum will yield a majority of “no” votes, the DOH will still respect the decision but will ensure that there will be a waiver signed by those opposed to the plan so that the DOH will not be held accountable in case there is a severe damage to life and property as the Fabella Hospital structure is currently in unsound condition.

According to DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin, the transfer was proposed because the existing buildings (of Fabella Hospital) were evaluated to be structurally unsound.

“And continued occupancy may result in damage to life and property in an event of a major earthquake,” she said in a press briefing held at the DOH Media Relations Unit in Tayuman St., Santa Cruz, Manila.

The Health Chief said it was in May 2014 when the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved the modernization plan.

Secretary Garin clarified that there is no private sector component in the modernization project.

“While it was lodged in the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Office by virtue of decision of the former managers of the DOH, there is no private sector component,” she said.

In January 2016, findings were submitted to the Health Chief that the existing buildings of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital have a reduced structural integrity.

“'Yan po ang naging problema; apat pa lamang 'yan, di kasama ang four other buildings. Question: Who will now have the accountability kung di natin ililipat ang mga pasyente at empleyado? Who will be answerable kung saka-sakaling may mangyari at hindi well-informed ang patients?,” she said.

She said that retrofitting will cost P300 million plus and will be finished in a minimum of three years.

"Nakita naman natin na ang National Library (has undergone retrofitting) at hanggang ngayon ay di pa natatapos,” she added.

She also said that as of now, there is no funding yet for retrofitting and finding funds for it will take a long time and is not practical.

“Magsasayang ka ng pera, alam mo namang hindi feasible ang building. Ang retrofitting ay iba sa construction. Ang construction, talagang ipatatayo mo. Ang retrofitting, di mo 'yan pwedeng galawin ng sabay-sabay,” she said.

The budget for the modernization and transfer of the Fabella Hospital to the currently being developed site is P2 billion. (PNA)
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