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Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Gwen lukewarm to Tom offer to take over CCMC
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is not keen on Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s proposal for the Capitol to take over the Cebu
City Medical Center (CCMC), an idea that he tied to the cancelled lot swap deal.
Garcia said it would be better for Osmeña to bring up the issue with the Cebu City Council first.
She also pointed out the need for the Provincial Government to focus on efforts to get the primary and secondary services of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) from the Department of Health (DOH).
“I am flattered by Mayor Osmeña’s statement as regards our ability to handle hospitals, but let’s proceed slowly... Mas maayo ug sila lang usa magstorya sa council. Ang iring nasunog nag kausa, sakit na ug masunog pa ug kaduha,” she said.
She referred to the earlier negotiations to swap a Cebu City-owned lot in the North Reclamation Area in exchange for the Province-owned lots that thousands of Cebu City constituents are occupying.
As to the VSMMC issue, Garcia said this is not just a “concept” or “proposal” as what DOH 7 officials have said.
Offer
“This was an offer by Health Secretary (Francisco) Duque, who was reminded by President Arroyo in the last Cabinet meeting...So I think the regional officials here will take that as a signal. This is not a wild idea that I broached for,” the governor said.
Aside from being an offer of the DOH secretary, the proposed partial takeover also has Local Government Code provisions as legal basis, Garcia said.
“Buhaton ko ni unless mahimo mo-supersede ang ubos sa secretary... We should not foresee any serious objections that would forestall the arrangement,” she said. When asked about the DOH 7 statements, she replied, “That’s their problem.”
Some employees of the VSMMC have expressed opposition to the move, saying they don’t want to be under the Provincial Government for fear of “being politicized.” The governor already said she is also not willing to absorb them.
“I would ask that before they take refuge in clichés and outdated arguments, look around and take stock of what’s already happening and what we are doing. But I can’t blame them, maybe maoy naandan nila kay ang (maybe that’s what they’ve been used to because the) district hospitals have been a favorite whipping boy,” she said.
Impressions
While she cannot do anything if the mayor decides to turn over CCMC to the Province, CCMC hospital chief Myrna Go said she just hopes the mayor will change his impression of the hospital staff, whom he has repeatedly criticized for being inefficient.
Go said the mayor should evaluate the hospital staff again, so he can see that the services and personnel have improved.
“He has that impression that we are inefficient, but I’m doing my best to improve the services and I believe there are fewer issues and complaints now than before. I think it would be good for him to evaluate the hospital again,” Go said in an interview yesterday.
“I have done my best, but if my best is still lacking, then I’ll just have to do more. Little by little, we’re trying to improve. That’s why I want to ask, what should I do to change the mayor’s impression of CCMC?” she continued.
In a news conference yesterday, Osmeña admitted the CCMC is better managed now, but that it will only improve significantly if it’s turned over to a new management.
Blame
“I’m tired of evaluating CCMC. The burden of proof is on them, not on me. It might be good if they can bring back my driver alive, then I will change my mind,” he said.
The mayor has blamed the death of his driver in December 2004 on the CCMC staff.
He said that a nurse and the cashier caused unnecessary delays in the transfer of City Hall driver Jefferson Navaja to a private hospital for a brain scan, two days after a vehicular accident.
“CCMC is being run better now, admittedly, but I really believe we can have a major improvement here if we just put our money into outsourcing of hospital services for our constituents... As soon as I get the opportunity and the governor is willing to take over, I’ll just give it to her,” Osmeña said.
Aside from poor hospital services, the mayor said the management is also inefficient in anticipating a shortage in supplies and medicines.
Go said she will just leave it to the mayor and Governor Garcia to decide on the fate of the 416 CCMC regular employees and 29 consultants who might be affected if the turnover pushes through. (JPM/LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 2, 2006 issue)
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