Bills converting Iloilo hospitals into corp hit

THE Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) has opposed the privatization of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) and 26 other government hospitals in Iloilo into government owned and controlled hospital corporations.

Ruth Alinsangao, local AHW coordinator, asked Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and the City Council through a letter dated August 24, 2012 to discuss and support their position opposing House Bill 4546 and Senate Bill 2866, an Act converting the WVMC into a government owned and controlled hospital corporation with the San Joaquin municipal hospital as its subsidiary.

The WVMC is based in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The House bill on the WVMC conversion is authored by Representative Janette Garin of the first district of Iloilo.

Alinsagao said it is an emerging National Government policy now to convert government hospitals of the poor into a business enterprise through its public private partnership.

An AHW opposition was also launched against House Bill 6069 and Senate Bill 3031, or an Act converting 26 other government hospitals into national government hospital corporations that are currently under the administrative supervision of the Department of Health.

The City Council’s committee on health, sanitation, and hospital services chaired by Councilor Lyndon Acap said it will render a committee report of the AHW opposition request on Wednesday during its regular session.