|
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Proposed increase in gov't hospital bed capacity disapproved
HEALTH Undersecretary Milagros Fernandez yesterday admitted that the proposal to increase the bed capacity of the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) from 250-500 beds is one of the many proposals that could not be implemented, if ever approved, due to budget constraints.
Fernandez said the proposal could be one of the many “un-funded laws” in the country. “These are enabling acts that remain un-funded due to financial reasons.”
“There is no chance (for its implementation), for now”, the health undersecretary said over Radyo ng Bayan.
The proposed bill, filed by Congressman Erbie Fabian, has been approved at the committee level recently. It would soon be tackled at the Committee on Appropriations and if approved, would be presented for second reading at the plenary.
Fernandez said the proposal has been presented in Congress since the time of the late Congresswoman and later Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat. Several representations have been made with the Department of Budget (DBM) and the Department of Health (DOH) but no positive results were attained due to the budget deficit.
However, Fernandez, who is the concurrent officer-in-charge of the Regional Health Office, said Executive Order 366 that calls for the rationalization of all government executive agencies such as DOH, could provide relief to the problem.
Based on the executive order, government agencies including hospitals will have to rationalize what positions are necessary to effectively implement the programs needed. “If there will be positions considered not necessary in regional offices we can give it to the hospitals”, she said.
The need to increase the bed capacity at the ZCMC is necessary due to the number of patients that flock the government hospital. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
