BY ULYSSES V. ESPARTERO
KALIBO, Aklan - The hospital’s expansion into a second level referral (non-teaching) hospital will always be remembered as the greatest achievement and legacy of effective and efficient health service delivery to the people of the present united leadership.
Under the united leadership of Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores, Gov. Carlito S. Marquez and Vice Gov. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, Aklan took courage in having the project realized utilizing the loan proceeds from the World Bank with local funds from the province as equity.
The provincial government of Aklan and the Municipal Development Fund Office – Local Government Finance and Development Project (MDFO-LOGOFIND) entered into a memorandum of agreement for the latter to provide a loan to Aklan in the amount of P139 million.
According to Dr. Myrtle M. Pelayo, DOH Representative and a member of the Provincial Health Board, the provincial hospital is considered Aklan’s showcase of health service delivery system.
“The provincial government takes pride in having completed the expansion and rehabilitation of the provincial hospital not solely relying on the meager resources of the provincial government. It was in fact a product of sheer determination and resolve. The upkeep and cleanliness of the expanded hospital has been acclaimed as comparable to our best and private hospitals in the country,” she added.
The expansion of provincial hospital, now under the supervision of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Emma Cortes, is anchored on two major objectives: (1) to serve as one of the economic enterprises of the province to generate additional revenues; and (2) to provide better and efficient health services to Aklanons.
The project components included the construction of a three-storey building, canteen, hospital façade and mortuary; rehabilitation of the old buildings (north, main and south buildings, doctors’ and nurses’ quarters); construction of new power house; upgrading of existing powerhouse; improvement site; and other major items. Also included are the procurement of transformers, air-conditioning units, generator sets, x-ray machines, ultrasound machine, hospital beds, furniture, curtains and other hospital furnishings.
Four rooms of the hospital ground floor will be utilized as private doctors’ clinics for rent. This is one way to encourage Aklanon doctors based in Manila to practice their profession here in Aklan and at the same time, be of service to their province mates. Located at the 2nd and 3rd Floors of the building are about 35 rooms, which will serve as private rooms for hospital patients.
Provincial Government and Services Officer Medelia Solanoy earlier stressed the procurement of modern and updated hospital equipment will save Aklanons from expense and tedious travel to Iloilo and Manila just to avail of adequate diagnosis and treatment.
It maybe recalled that the provincial hospital was built in the 1930s when Aklan was still part of Capiz. After World War II, the hospital was authorized to have a bed capacity of 30, which was increased to 59 beds in 1956, then 75 in 1961 and finally to 100 beds in 1975. It was later renamed to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital Despite an almost 150 percent bed occupancy, it remains a 100-bed hospital. Hospital beds ate now placed it its hallways to cope with the increasing volume of patients.
AFFORDABLE HOSPITAL SERVICES
EEDD Chief Rex Victor Consemino said the provincial hospital is one service area considered as viable avenue for enterprise development merged under the EEDD to spur generation of much needed revenues for the province and in return, provide better services and effect client satisfaction. The provincial hospital expansion shall pursue sustainable growth and development through innovative generation of financial resources for effective quality and accessible service delivery.
It must be emphasized that while the provincial government is challenged to open new economic frontiers, maintain fiscal stability and promote responsible stewardship for good governance and public service, the indigency program for Aklanons who wanted to avail of hospital services shall be pursued with vigor and without let up for public service remains a top priority of the present administration.
Aklanons are also assured of affordable hospital services compared to privately-run hospitals in Kalibo especially rates on minor and major operations and admission to private rooms.
“The hospital expansion is a major development in our health services program and will mainly benefit our poor constituents, a major concern of the Arroyo administration. It will also be a flagship of the province’s EEDD program,” Marquez stressed. ■
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