EXPECT more improved services at Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital (RTMDH) in Cabatuan, Iloilo, as it officially opened new facilities and equipment to the public.
Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. graced the blessing and inauguration of the new medical-nursing service area, pharmacy, X-ray, laboratory and nurses dormitory of the said hospital on Monday, December 4.
Provincial Administrator and concurrent chief of Hospital Management Office (HMO) Dr. Raul Banias said the Iloilo Provincial Government spent P55 million for the said facilities and equipment.
The budget was part of the P300 million loaned by the Province from Land Bank of the Philippines for the upgrading of four catchment hospitals, namely, RTMDH, Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal, Sara District Hospital in Sara, and Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan.
Dr. Francisco Ronnel Quiñon, chief of RTMDH, thanked Defensor for giving priority to the upgrading and improvement of the 12 Provincial Government hospitals since his return as governor in 2010.
He said with the upgrading and improvement of hospital facilities and equipment, they could “provide quality health care service to those who need it and provide comfort to our workforce.”
Defensor recalled that when he returned as governor, he made a promise to upgrade all of the Provincial Government-run hospitals into “real hospitals for the poor.”
So far, he said, the Province invested about P1.6 billion for the upgrading of all the hospitals with the help of the Department of Health, PhilHealth and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica).
He added that by 2018 and 2019, around P600 million would be allotted for additional hospital projects, including the hiring of more personnel.
The governor reminded all the hospital staff that the improvements in facilities and equipment would become useless if the poor people could not benefit from it.
“Give priority to the poor because they are the ones who badly need government services, the rich could take care of themselves,” he said, adding: “Nothing is more fulfilling than serving our poor brothers and sisters because for sure the Lord Almighty would be happy for us.”
RTMDH is one of the best performing district hospitals in Iloilo, based on generated income and service quality. It has an average occupancy rate of 176 percent. At present, it has a 50-bed capacity but it will be upgraded to 75-bed capacity by next year.
Also present during the program were retired chiefs and hospital employees, as well as the family of the late Ramon Tabiana and the donors of the lots where the hospital is currently standing.
Third district Board Members Lorenz Defensor and Emmanuel Gallar and the officials of Cabatuan led by Mayor Ronilo Caspe also graced the occasion. (PR)