Friday, December 15, 2006 CH to investigate sale of X-ray films
EVEN if it’s based only on an anonymous letter of complaint, Cebu City Hall will conduct its own investigation on the alleged selling of used X-ray films at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said it is the first time he heard about the alleged practice at the city hospital.
His office is still waiting to get a copy of the anonymous letter so they can start the probe as soon as he gets back from Manila today.
“It’s just an anonymous letter but still, we will investigate it and find out if it’s true or not, and who are the persons involved,” he said in a phone interview yesterday.
Sun.Star Cebu tried to call CCMC Chief Myrna Go at her office and through her cellular phone yesterday but she could not be reached for comment.
Meeting
For his part, Councilor Christopher Alix said he will call the CCMC chief and the head of the x-ray department to a meeting to discuss the complaint.
Based on the initial report he got, Alix said some hospital personnel have been selling used x-ray films, a practice not allowed in the hospital.
“It’s not just the selling of the films but also selling garments and used clothing inside the hospital during office hours. I’m going to come up with an inquiry on this,” said Alix, chairman of the council committee on health and hospital services.
Alix said used films are sold to pawnshops or florists allegedly by one of the doctors and a secretary, but the information remained unverified.
He admitted hearing a similar complaint in the past, prompting him to ask the hospital management to look into the matter. The councilor has yet to hear from the hospital officials about it.
“I’m sure this is an underground thing because I was told the hospital officials don’t know about it. I’ve heard about this before but it was just in passing. We’ll look into it this time,” he said.
Alix said he has yet to read the letter of complaint, a copy of which was already sent to the Office of the Ombudsman. (LCR)
