By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol ChronicleThe lack of doctors and inadequate facilities at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) will be the top agenda of a scheduled meeting this month between Gov. Erico Aumentado and Health Sec. Francisco Duque III.
The most important government hospital in the province where hundreds of patients are admitted and given medical treatment, the GCGMH came underfire recently after complaints made by some of the hospital's clients.
One patient died at the hospital last week after allegedly being refused admittance. It was later verified by the Chronicle that the said patient, Iza Pata, 18 years old, did
not have a referral from another hospital in Cebu that initially treated her.
The OB-Gyne section of GCGMH took tests of the patient but did not confine her pending the results of the laboratory tests.
While waiting for the laboratory results, Pata, was found by one of the hospital's personnel in a comfort room already "gasping for breath". She was immediately brought to the emergency room but died about 40 minutes later.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Chief of Hospital Dr. Nenita Po said the patient was not confined since her initial complaint was only "stomach pains and vomiting" at that time although she was accommodated as an out-patient and received preliminary check-up.
It was only after the results of the laboratory exam that the hospital knew Pata had malignant ovarian mass, Po explained.
Her death may have been caused by complication of the ovarian mass which normally affects the lungs, according to the hospital chief.
Po admitted that during that time, the OB-Gyne section had 48 patients confined while the hospital's bed capacity is only good for 40 patients.
In another incident, one Janet Villarojo, complained over dyRD's top-rated Inyong Alagad of having been maltreated by the hospital's staff including her daughter-in-law who was expecting a baby and was admitted at the OB-Gyne ward.
According to Villarojo, her daughter-in-law was sharing a bed with three other patients but was not allowed to use a vacant bed since it was already reserved for another patient.
Villarojo asked that her patient be temporarily allowed to use the unoccupied bed but was yelled at by one hospital staff.
She was then forcibly dragged out of the ward by three security men, Villarojo claimed.
After being informed of the incident, Po assured to take action and investigate those involved.
LACK OF DOCTORS
The governor vowed to intercede in behalf of the regional hospital when he meets with Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Duque on May 30.
Aumentado said he will ask Po to provide him with a profile of the hospital's personnel that needs to be filled up so he can bring the matter to Duque during their meeting.
The governor added that he also has a pending request with the Veterans' Affairs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon to provide beds and hospital equipment for a veterans' ward.
Po explained that the hospital's Medical Section is really understaffed. Ideally, the section alone needs 10 resident physicians but they only have 2 at present.
The Medical section comprises 30 percent of confinements at the hospital and yet it only has two resident doctors, according to Po.
Moreover, the two physicians also have to do consultations at their own private clinics considering the low salary in government hospitals compared to private practitioners.
The GCGMH, formerly Provincial Hospital, was designated by the DOH as a regional hospital and its bed capacity was increased to about 225 from 200.
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