THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed bill for the operation and management of the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) to go back to the national government and increase the bed capacity to 400 beds.
For the nominal voting in Congress increasing the bed capacity of the BeGH from 200 to 400 beds and placing the hospital under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health, the bill gained 205 affirmative approval, zero negative and zero abstention.
Benguet caretaker and ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Eric Go Yap announced the approval for third and final reading of House Bill.
"Kasado na sa Kongreso ang renationalization o ang pagbabalik sa DOH ng Benguet General Hospital. Bukod dito, dadagdagan din ang bed capacity ng ospital mula 200 ay magiging 400 beds na. Kapag tuluyang naging batas, magkakaroon ng regular at sapat na pondo ang ospital para sa pag-upgrade ng mga medical facilities at equipment ng ospital. Mas maisasaayos din natin ang mga benepisyo para sa mga empleyado. Ang bunga nito, mas tataas ang kalidad ng serbisyo ng Benguet General Hospital upang mas marami ang matulungan," Yap said.
The legislator said once a law, there would be regular and enough funding for the hospital for its upgrade for medical facilities and equipment, adding that benefits for employees will also be in place and increase quality of the service in BeGH.
Yap, in his visit to the hospital on Thursday, June 4, shared his goal for the bill to be discussed once the Senate resumes its regular session in July, and target the end of the year for the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte of the recently approved House Bill 6849 intended for the re-nationalization of BeGH.
The Provincial Government earlier placed BeGH as an economic enterprise, but the hospital has been needing the subsidy of the province.
BeGH also lacks 180 personnel and infrastructure such as records section, expansion/ computerization of hospital records, surgical ICU, expansion of ICU of oxygen generator.
Governor Melchor Diclas, a medical doctor by profession, shared positive response to the recently approved bill.
Diclas said the Provincial Government alone cannot give the equipment and facilities needed, and needs the help of the National Government.
BeGH provides healthcare services to the residents of Ifugao, Baguio City, Abra, Mountain Province, Kalinga.
Last March, the Provincial Board of Benguet passed a resolution supporting the House bill re-nationalizing the BeGH located in La Trinidad.
Under Resolution 2020-417, the legislators said the hospital has limited sources for the regular maintenance of its existing facilities, while old equipment are beyond repair or need an upgrade, and there are limited services that resulted in patients being referred to other health providers.