THE Capitol has opened more permanent positions for doctors in its 16 district and provincial hospitals in Cebu in the last three years.
But most doctors still choose to work on a contractual basis.
“It’s just their choice,” said Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, chief of the Provincial Health Office.
She said doctors didn’t want to limit their options of working elsewhere by being “organic” government workers.
“Some even have a private practice,” she said.
As of yesterday, there are 125 vacant positions to fill.
There are 46 medical officers in permanent positions in Cebu district and provincial hospitals, but a bigger number have job order contracts and prefer to go on duty when they are available.
Dr. Genesoloango said the doctors don’t necessarily refuse regular positions. In fact they say they are well paid by the province and enjoy PhilHealth benefits.
But Dr. Genosolango said most doctors want to maximize their time and earn more as contract-based workers.
The Capitol is looking for a replacement for Dr. Agnes Demano, whose contract was abruptly terminated by Gov. Hilario Davide III after last week’s death of a dehydrated infant, an emergency case, in the Minlganilla District Hospital which was traced to her “lapse in judgement” that delayed treatment.
Six more permanent positions for medical officer are vacant in the Minglanilla hospital, based on Capitol human resource office records.
Only two doctors are permanent hires.
Asked if Demano’s exit would affect operations, Dr. Genosolango said, “I hope not. I think we can still handle it,” she said.
HOSPITAL FEES
In a separate 888 News Forum, Bogo City Mayor Celesinto “Junie” Martinez Jr. said service fees were imposed in provincial hospitals and clinics during the term of former governor and now Rep. Gwen Garcia.
He showed a copy of a 2008 ordinance where one of the province revenues listed was “Provincial Hospital Service Fees”.
“I remember that during her time, doctors were treated as casuals and patients were charged fees,” he said.
In the Garcia administration, the focus was to outsource medical personnel of district hospitals from a manpower agency.
The 2008 ordinance sets fees for consultation fee at P30 during office hours and P50 on weekends, holidays.
Emergency room services ranged from P20 to P200 while use of oxygen equipment was P15 per hour.
Laboratory fees aranged from P20 to P100.
Room rates ranged from P100 to P1,000. Use of the delivery room, operating room and wards had separate rates.
Ambulance use was charged P200 for the first five kilometers and P20 for each succeeding kilometer.
Martinez said that Gov. Hilario Davide III already ordered all hospitals not to charge for the use of ambulances.
In a statement, Rep. Garcia pointed out that ordinances are legislative work and that she signed it as a ministerial duty.
“Why only show part of the ordinance and not the whole document? The trouble with showing an incomplete ordinance raises suspicion that he is trying to hide something. I wonder why? Was he trying to hide the fact that the authors are his allies – like Calderon and Magpale? If he is trying to blame me, then he must also blame the authors,” she said.
Garcia said Governor Davide is “guilty of criminal neglect” in the operation of district hospital and other aspects of his governance.
The ordinance was authored in 2008 by PB Members Peter John Calderon who is now a Davide ally and Wenceslao Gakit and seconded by all members present which included now Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.
Garcia said that in her nine years as governor, never did it happen that a child died because he was refused treatment, or because he was given the wrong drug, as in two recent cases in the Minglanilla District Hospital.
She said fees were applied only to those who could afford, not on indigent patients.
The Capitol during her time had the biggest number of families enrolled to the Philhealth Medical Indigency Program among all LGUs in the country.
“Martinez must juggle his memory to remember what it was during my time, unless he refuses to do so to present his own politically colored point of view. He knew pila ka libo atong gitabangan, ug bisag lahi mig partido wa sila balibari. As he gets on with age he gets short with memory,” she said.
If the ordinance was not right, why did Davide’s administration not amend or recall it, she asked.
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