CLMMRH gives back hope to poor

WORRY overwhelms people - rich and poor - if they get sick. And more so to people who have less in life and could hardly afford to avail of medications in private hospitals.

The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) under the leadership of Dr. Julius Drilon, brother of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon, has given back hope to poor people of Negros Occidental to have easy access to the services at the regional hospital.

There is a big improvement with the way patients are taken cared at the regional hospital.

Before, the image was not that good, considering that patients and families complain about poor treatment plus the fact that the regional hospital is marred with anomalies and controversies.

But past is past. For now, patients are secured and feel safe that they will surely get the right and needed medications without worrying much where to get needed funds before admission.

In private hospitals, if you don't have P3,000 or more, you will not be admitted. At the regional hospital, a meager P50 can allow the patient to get admitted and get the needed medications from the physicians and nurses on duty.

A patient who asked for anonymity said, "My family and myself felt relieved when we chose the regional hospital for my medication. A lot of our well meaning elected officials really set aside funds for the indigents where we have availed discounts up to 50 percent through Social Welfare Assistance (SWA). I could not imagine what will happen to us if not for the regional hospital," he said.

There are still room for improvements at the regional hospital, especially at the Emergency Room, said an observer. But people know that Is part of the priority concerns of Dr. Drilon.

It is also a step in a right direction the support of Health Secretary Enrique Ona to pour in millions of pesos to improve and modernize the regional hospital.

The regional hospital is truly a "People's Hospital". (Carla N. Canet)