Pam seeks regional solution to VSMMC watchers’ issue
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The problem of watchers being forced to sleep outside the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) persists and remains unresolved.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said she wanted to raise the issue before the Regional Development Council, noting that concerns over VSMMC’s operations affect not only the Cebuanos but also patients and their companions from other parts of the region.
“Regional concern kini, ug dili lamang Cebu ang nag-atubang sa ingon niini nga problema. Kinahanglan magkahiusa ta sa pagpangita og solusyon, both for the families who need assistance now and for the larger challenges in our healthcare system,” Baricuatro said in a statement that she posted on her social media page Friday night, October 9.
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(This is a regional concern, and Cebu is not the only province facing this kind of problem. We need to work together to find solutions, both for the families who need assistance now and for the broader challenges facing our healthcare system.)
The governor said the RDC should bring together the Department of Health, hospital management, Cebu City officials, and concerned local government units to discuss the matter.
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“Importante usab ang papel sa matag LGU sa pagtabang sa ilang kaugalingong mga constituents nga adunay pasyente sa Sotto,” she said.
(Local government units [LGUs] also play an important role in helping their constituents who have patients admitted to VSMMC.)
Sleeping on cardboard
A social media post that has since gone viral showed family members or watchers of patients admitted to the VSMMC sleeping on pieces of cardboard outside the hospital.
In response to the post, VSMMC said it had addressed concerns about patient watchers and companions staying outside its premises, citing its one-watcher policy, limited space, and efforts to provide temporary accommodation for those accompanying patients.
While acknowledging the difficulties faced by families whose loved ones are confined — particularly those traveling from different parts of Cebu and neighboring provinces — the hospital said it also needed to balance their needs with patient safety, security, infection prevention and control, and the orderly delivery of medical services.
Baricuatro said that while the policy may cause inconvenience, the hospital’s one-watcher policy must still be observed.
“Ang Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center usa ka national government hospital ubos sa Department of Health, apan isip gobernador, concern usab nako ang kahimtang sa mga pamilya nga naghulat ug natulog sa gawas niini. Daghan kanila mga Cebuano, ug we have a responsibility to help find a solution together with the hospital and the DOH,” Baricuatro said.
(The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center is a national government hospital under the Department of Health. However, as governor, I am also concerned about the situation of families who wait and sleep outside the hospital. Many of them are Cebuanos, and we have a responsibility to work together with the hospital and the DOH to find a solution.)
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“Dugay na kini nga problema nga wala pa matubag og tarong. In fact, I had already tasked someone to work on this, and I am following up on its progress. Naa tay lugar nga gi ila alang niini, apan wala pa kini mabakante. Mao kini ang usa sa mga kinahanglan natong masulbad aron mapagamit ang lugar. We have an interim plan for the immediate need and a longer-term plan, and I want these moved forward.”
(This has been a longstanding problem that has yet to be properly addressed. In fact, I had already tasked someone to work on it, and I am following up on its progress. We have identified a site for this purpose, but it is not yet available for use. Making the site available is one of the issues we need to resolve. We have an interim plan to address the immediate need and a longer-term plan, and I want both to move forward.)
Ease VSMMC congestion
Baricuatro said the need to ease congestion at VSMMC is one of the reasons her administration is working to strengthen provincial and district hospitals in Cebu by improving staffing, equipment, and services.
“Ang mga kaso nga kaya ra matambalan sa atong mga ospital kinahanglan maatiman duol sa ilang mga komunidad, aron dili na kinahanglan moadto pa sa Sotto. This can help ease congestion and lessen the burden on patients and their families,” she said.
(Cases that can be treated at local hospitals should be managed closer to patients’ communities so they no longer have to travel to VSMMC for treatment. This can help ease congestion at the hospital and lessen the burden on patients and their families.)
“Of course, some cases still need to be referred to Sotto, especially those requiring a higher level of care. As an apex referral hospital, Sotto plays an important role in providing specialty services. In fact, dili lang mga taga-Cebu Province ang ilang giserbisyohan. Daghan usab gikan sa Cebu City, Bohol, Mindanao, ug ubang mga lugar nga modangop didto.”
(Of course, some cases still need to be referred to VSMMC, especially those requiring a higher level of care. As an apex referral hospital, VSMMC plays an important role in providing specialized medical services. In fact, it serves not only patients from Cebu Province but also many others from Cebu City, Bohol, Mindanao, and other areas who seek treatment there.)
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While a long-term solution is being worked out, Baricuatro said she is monitoring the situation to ensure that those affected receive much-needed relief.
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