LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Lawmakers are set to come up with their stand following the public consultation Thursday, February 26, on the proposed transfer of the management and operations of Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) to the national government.
Vice Governor Johnny Waguis said board members will decide their position whether to support the House Bill 6171 filed by Benguet legislative caretaker Eric Go Yap or not.
Earlier, the transfer and management and operation of BeGH Economic Enterprise to the DOH is being pushed in congress with Yap, who is also the ACT-CIS Party-list representative, filing House Bill 6171 to renationalize BeGH and increase its bed capacity to 400 beds.
The legislator said the hospital needs to be supervised by the national government to assure continuous fund and aid for the hospital and not to further rely on funds from the provincial government.
He solicited 13 municipal government units to submit their stand.
The budget of BeGH is based on collections earned by the hospital, subsidy from the province of Benguet, and financial assistance from other resources according to Provincial Accountant Lucia Kisim.
It was in 2005 when BeGH became an economic enterprise and in 2006, the hospital gained P8 million.
But from 2007 onwards, the operations of the hospital incurred a net loss of P32 million.
The hospital was able to continue with the subsidy and supplemental budget from the province.
And from 2013 to 2018, BeGH was able to make a turn around and earn P45,017,000.
However in 2019, BeGH lost P38.6 million.
Kisim added that an economic enterprise such as the hospital is supposed to be self-sustaining after five years, however, the hospital has been needing the subsidy of the province.
DOH Undersecretary Roger Tong-an during Wednesday’s consultation said the parameters whether to be renationalized or be retained as LGU-led hospital will have to consider its autonomy, the funds and incentives therein, and the ultimate goal of financial risk protection.
He also assured non-displacement of hospital workers when renationalization push through.
The DOH official also cited the health department executive committee resolution 181 series 2019 which comprised several conditions should be met for study:
1. Expressed intent of the local government unit to give up its authority over the particular health facility including its assets like its human resources for health, buildings, grounds, records and equipment to the national government;
2. Sanggunian resolution justifying and explaining details of transfer of authority;
3. Information on the health facility’s condition, situational analysis of the catchment area, financial and other records showing difficulty in providing resources, and records of interventions, strategies and activities the LGU has undertaken.
The 49 years old hospital was established and operated by the health department with 361 employees. In 2019 alone, it accommodated 31,566 patients, 109,838 outpatients and 2,810 surgical cases.
It provides healthcare services to the residents of Ifugao, Baguio, Abra, Mountain Province, Kalinga.