Hospital chiefs credit Espino for health reforms
LINGAYEN—Who deserves credit for the improved health services and public hospitals in Pangasinan?
The doctors who know are unanimous in their observation.
All 14 chiefs of government-owned hospitals in Pangasinan have gone on public record to attest that the development and transformation of medical facilities and services in the province were undertaken under the present administration of Governor Amado Espino, Jr.
Coming in full force during last week’s Talakayan sa Kapitolyo, the hospital chiefs made the pronouncement to belie claims of officials under the previous administration of former Governor Victor Agbayani that the improvements were made under their watch.
Agbayani, currently congressional representative of the 2nd District, is again running for governor in the May election and he will be up against Espino who is seeking re-election.
Dr. Jackson Soriano, chief of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH), said since Espino was elected governor in 2007, all hospitals underwent major reforms in terms of infrastructure, equipment, diagnostic services, and personal services. He added that Espino, a hands-on governor, was actively involved in the planning and implementation of the projects.
Other hospital chiefs who testified in support of Espino include Dr. Jovencio Tumbaga, chief of the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital; Dr. Julian Rose, Chief of Umingan Community Hospital; and Dr. Franklin Sable, Chief of the Mapandan Community Hospital.
Rose said the major reforms initiated by Espino have changed the negative impression about government-owned medical institutions.
All public hospitals have since been operating on above 100% capacity.
Soriano said with the transformation of the hospitals, bed capacities increased dramatically enabling the hospitals to accommodate more patients, especially from the marginalized sector of society.
“The changes are evident,” Soriano said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan reported that the provincial government spent P159 million in upgrading the hospitals.
He added that the Department of Health provided P40 million for the improvement of the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital, while P11 million was received from the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
Baraan also noted that more affluent patients have been began patronizing the public hospitals.-LM
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