THE Cebu Provincial Government has deployed 20 doctors to a government hospital in the Camotes Islands to expand access to specialized healthcare and reduce the need for residents to travel to mainland Cebu for medical treatment.
The Province said the doctors have been assigned to the Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital (RLMMH) in the Municipality of San Francisco.
The team includes two surgeons, a chief of hospital, two anesthesiologists, one obstetrician-gynecologist, two pediatricians, four internal medicine specialists and nine resident doctors.
Gov. Pamela Baricuatro earlier said the deployment is part of the Provincial Government’s efforts to address the shortage of doctors and nurses on the island and improve the delivery of public health services in geographically isolated communities.
To support the initiative, Baricuatro directed the Cebu Provincial Health Office and health consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan to assess Camotes Island’s healthcare needs in coordination with RLMMH Chief of Hospital Dr. Rene Macario Borromeo.
The deployment complements ongoing upgrades at the hospital. Last month, RLMMH received two electrocautery machines to strengthen its surgical services and is set to receive a Mindray Laparoscopy Tower System, which will enable minimally invasive procedures and expand the range of operations that can be performed on the island.
Separated from mainland Cebu by sea, Camotes Island has long faced challenges in accessing specialized healthcare, with many patients forced to travel to Cebu City for treatment at hospitals such as the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and other referral facilities.
Provincial officials said deploying more specialists and upgrading hospital equipment will help bring quality healthcare closer to residents, shorten travel time, and reduce the cost of seeking medical treatment. / ANV
