Alfred P. Dizon
LA TRINIDAD,
Benguet – It is high time the national government takes over the Benguet
General Hospital (BeGH) from the cudgels of the provincial government.
Over the
years, we have seen the inefficiency of administration of the hospital.
Recently, the mother of a baby patient complained to us she submitted her
billing around 10 a.m. so they could check out from the hospital. Around 2:30
p.m., she was not yet given clearance to move out.
The one in
charge at the billing section reportedly told the mother there were still a lot
of papers ahead of her which needed to be finished.
The mother
was complaining there were only at least three persons in the area who filed
their papers so they could be given clearance to move out since it was a
Saturday.
It was only
when the one in charge was asked what really was the problem that she was given
clearance.
***
Over the
years, since I live nearby, I could personally attest to the inefficient
administration of the BeGH since I have myself checked up there once in a while
like when my blood pressure shoots up or my liver complains due to a a drink
too many.
Sometimes, it
takes an eternity for one to get attention for one’s ailment, reason why I go now
to nearby private clinics or in Baguio to have myself checked up.
Owing to reported
lack or inadequacy of personnel, patients have to endure long lines before they
are checked up.
Like in the
case of the mother, there was no pediatrician around when she had her kid
admitted. A nurse just inserted a dextrose needle on the weak baby’s wrist who
was crying pitifully and visibly in pain.
The kid who
was vomiting and had diarrhea needed immediate attention. But there was no
doctor so she had to call a doctor she knew to go to the hospital to check her
baby.
***
Over the
years, I’ve heard a lot of horror stories of patients about their bad
experiences at the hospital. Some complained some staff were rude, although
some doctors did their job efficiently.
The BeGH also
lacks enough facilities like dialysis machines or those for eye operations
unlike the Baguio General which is now getting patients all over Luzon due to
its modernized facilities and systematic way of handling things.
Among other
matters, the BeGH badly needs to be upgraded to be at par with world-class
standards considering it is the nearest hospital which should be catering to
Benguet and nearby provinces.
If this is
done and the hospital placed under the national government, patients at the
overcrowded BGHMC in Baguio could be decongested.
***
It is welcome
news that Benguet’s province’s caretaker congressman Eric Go Yap said Thursday
he has filed a bill reverting the BeGH to the national government’s control and
increase its bed capacity from 200 to 400.
In filing the
bill, Yap said he wants to improve the facility, as well as service with the
staff receiving much better pay.
Yap said he
is saddened with the low pay of nurses, whom he said, receive a Salary Grade
(SG) 9 when they should be receiving at least SG 15.
An SG 9
employee gets P17,975 and an SG 15 gets P32,000 under the new salary grade
scheme.
Yap said he
has already talked with Gov. Melchor Diclas, a physician, who is amenable to
his proposal. “Walang gustong gobernador na ibigay sa national
government ang Benguet General Hospital, except Gov. Diclas (No Benguet
governor wanted to have Benguet Gen nationalized),” said Yap, adding that the
Dept. of Health also welcomes his proposal.
A PNA report
by Pigeon Lobien said the BeGH was first opened to the public in 1971 under the
supervision of the DOH.
In 1993, due
to the passage of the Local Government Code in 1991, operation and management
were devolved to the province. From a 50-bed hospital facility, the BeGH was
made into a 200-bed capacity in 2000.
***
Yap was on a
three-day stay here last week that included meetings with La Trinidad,
Benguet-based Team Lakay whom he promised to give a gym of their own, check on
the hospital and a meeting with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways on what
projects must be implemented.
He met with
the Dept. of Agriculture on how his office could help implement farm-to-market
roads.
He will also
meet with the mayors of the 13 municipalities, and the Police Regional
Office-Cordillera to have a better look at what the province needs as its
caretaker-congressman.
Nationalisation of the Benguet General Hospital is no solution and an absurdity backward in a time of decentralisation and strengthening community based primary health units. What needs to be examined is policy and protocols; and equally the hospital operations efficiency.
ReplyDeleteA management blueprint for hospital management ought to be devised, and lessons ought to be learned, such that the BengGH can operate as an independent GOC or GOE. Benguet General Hospital is iconis aside the promise of a future for tribe medical practitioners. The hospital was established to improve the overall health conditions of tribes persons, and it has achieved this marking to the record of WHO. The province has managed many years without intervention. Sustainability can be learned. Sustainability can be accomplished. What is wrong with our leaders?