The government-run Davao Medical Center (DMC) located along J.P. Laurel, Bajada in Davao City will soon be named Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) as it readies itself to become the biggest government hospital in the island of Mindanao.
DMC chief of hospital Dr. Leopoldo Vega said the change in name is in line with House Bill No. 5926, entitled: “An act changing the name of the Davao Medical Center in Davao City to the Southern Philippines Medical Center, increasing its bed capacity from six hundred (600) to one thousand two hundred (1,200), upgrading its service facilities and professional health care, authorizing the increase of its medical personnel and appropriating funds therefore.â€
However, Vega said though the increase in bed capacity required by the law is only 1,200 the existing bed capacity of the hospital is now 1,500.
“The hospital has an estimated of 260,000 outpatients annually and 80,000 per year were confined to the emergency facility, coming from different places of Mindanao,†he said.
He added that the number of patients admitted in the hospital per year would reach to 70,000, which would make a 202 percent growth of occupancy rate.
Vega said if the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will grant the additional budget for the new buildings and reconstruction the current hospital, this will address the overflowing of patients.
"Let us hope that we will get the exact budget. A bigger facility will definitely benefit the current number of patients,†he said.
He said they will also add more personnel, and improve health services.
Vega said DMC is also the training center for medical practitioners from all over the region.
SPMC will be formally launched in August, Vega added. (PNA)
LOR/Jessie L. Casalda/lvp
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