Dr. Ignacio Moreno, PHO chief, confirmed this on Sunday during the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of the P20-million Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital-Balingasag.

The doctors were Dr. Juanita Notarte, [...]]]> AT LEAST four doctors from the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital (JRBMCH) transferred to two municipal hospitals in Misamis Oriental, top official from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said.

Dr. Ignacio Moreno, PHO chief, confirmed this on Sunday during the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of the P20-million Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital-Balingasag.

The doctors were Dr. Juanita Notarte, former internal medicine head of J.R. Borja General Hospital (JRBMCH); Dr. Dina Factura, Dr. Tim Ibana, and one Dr. Adejado.

It was learned that Dr. Ann Perez, who is now the acting chief of hospital of Claveria District Hospital, was also from JRBMCH.

“Pero dugay na si Dr. Perez sa Claveria. Ang bag-o lang nadawat dire sa Balingasag mao sila si Dr. Notarte, Dr. Factura, Dr. Ibana and Dr. Adejado, pero dugay na gyud sila nag-apply,” Moreno told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Moreno, however, declined to give any more comment on the doctors’ reason to work at Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital-Balingasag.

Mayor Constantino Jaraula had said the resignations of some 18 physicians recently can’t be blamed in the supposed low pay and poor working conditions at the secondary-grade hospital.

Jaraula said it was normal for practicing physicians to gain “experience” at government-run hospitals as a stepping stone for “promotion” or employment in municipal health care facilities.

Several of the doctors who spoke to Sun.Star on condition of anonymity said they left J.R. Borja General Hospital because of low pay, delayed salaries and poor working conditions. Some said the inadequate facilities at the hospital had impeded them from performing their jobs properly.

Cagayan de Oro second district Representative Rufus Rodriguez had called the resignations “principled.”

“The doctors were resigning not for greener pastures but as a protest, knowing that their services cannot be properly maximized because the hospital has no decent facility,” Rodriguez said.

“I believe our doctors had really wanted to serve the people; they were willing to render their services. I don’t believe it when they say that those who resigned are a bunch of selfish people who are demanding perks and such,” Rodriguez added. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)

This was revealed by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula during Monday’s flagraising ceremony at City Hall even as he strongly pushed for the upgrading of the [...]]]> Cagayan De Oro City — The city government will allocate an additional P5 million funding for the emergency purchase of drugs and medicines at the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital.

This was revealed by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula during Monday’s flagraising ceremony at City Hall even as he strongly pushed for the upgrading of the city-run hospital.

Aside from allocating more funds for drugs and medicines, Mayor Jaraula is also contemplating the appointment of a regular administrator and a laundry administrator at the City Hospital.

Mayor Jaraula said that the P5 million allocation is an addition to the current P27.8 million budget set aside by the city government intended for the hospital’s drugs and medicines.

It can be recalled that Mayor Jaraula recently lashed back at his critics who criticized the city government for its alleged abandonment and neglect on the basic needs of the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital.

In a press conference held last week at his office, Mayor Jaraula clarified that the city has allocated this year an amount of P91.347 million for the’respectable operation’ of the city-run hospital.

This amount is broken down as follows: P50.647 million for personal services which is basically intended for salaries, wages and allowances for doctors, dentists, nurses and other health personnel; P32.9 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE); P27.8 million for drugs and medicines and P5 million for other expenses.

In addition to local funds, Mayor Jaraula said the local government got a P62 million subsidy from the national government through the Department of Health (DOH) as part of the pledge of commitment by President Arroyo in August 2007.

Of the said amount, according to Mayor Jaraula, some P22 million is intended for the completion of the construction of the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital Annex Building Project, while the remaining P40 million will be used for the upgrading and expansion of the 22 barangay health centers all over the city. (City Information Office)

The resignations came one after the other, and the news first came out [...]]]> 18 resign amid low pay, lack of facilities, drugs
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—More than half of the number of doctors at a government hospital here have quit over low pay, long working hours, and lack of facilities and medicines, it was learned Wednesday.

The resignations came one after the other, and the news first came out last week in a blog maintained by employees of J.R. Borja City Hospital.

Dr. Philip Medalle, hospital chief, on Wednesday confirmed the resignation of the doctors. “Eighteen (doctors) had already asked to be transferred (to private hospitals),” he said.

The hospital has a total of 35 doctors.

According to the blog, the doctors who quit had become disgruntled over the way the hospital was being managed. They complained of being underpaid and overworked, it said.

Disappointment

They were also disappointed over the alleged lack of concern by the city government on the hospital’s condition, including the lack of facilities and lack of medicines.

Medalle admitted that public physicians are indeed paid low compared to those in private hospitals, but added that this was because local governments had no funds for salary increases.

As to allegations that the doctors at the city hospital were overworked, he said any public physician knew that for a fact and should not complain about it.

“Public doctors should always expect longer working hours,” he said.

With the resignation of the doctors, Medalle said the services of the city hospital were really suffering.

“This is why we have limited our out-patient consultations,” he said.

The hospital also no longer accepts patients on weekends, Medalle said.

Politics

A senior hospital employee, who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter, said the resignations were a reaction to the city government’s rejection of a proposal to convert the hospital into an extension of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

The NMMC is a regional hospital supported with bigger funds from the national government.

“It would have ensured quality service for the hospital but the problem was politics got in the way,” the source said.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, health regional director, said the Department of Health was ready to fill up the vacant posts left by the doctors but added that the city government had to make a formal request first.

“So far, we have not received any request from the city government, but rest assured, we will respond to the needs of patients there,” he said.

Many government hospitals are suffering from a shortage of doctors and nurses as hundreds of graduates of medical and nursing courses prefer to work abroad.

Those who choose to stay prefer working in private hospitals where pay is better. By Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:25:00 06/18/2009

KANIADTO pa problema na gyud kaayo ang kahimtang sa JR Borja Memorial City Hospital. Busa, di gyud ta matingala kon mag-ulhos og pang-resign ang mga doctor.

Kaniadto pa nagsubwak ang mga pasyenti pero gamay ra ang mga doctor nga moatiman busa kon dunay [...]]]>

J.R. Borja General Hospital, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City / Photo by JR

KANIADTO pa problema na gyud kaayo ang kahimtang sa JR Borja Memorial City Hospital. Busa, di gyud ta matingala kon mag-ulhos og pang-resign ang mga doctor.

Kaniadto pa nagsubwak ang mga pasyenti pero gamay ra ang mga doctor nga moatiman busa kon dunay pasyenti nga makabsan nalang sa kinabuhi tungod sa kakuwang og pagtagad, dili na gyud ta matingala ana.

Kaniadto pa nagkuwang og tambal ug uban pang supply sa ekipo, busa kon mograbe ang sakit inay maayo ang pasyenti, dili ta matingala ana.

Kaniadto pa gitinguha nga itugyan nalang ang pagdumala sa tambalanan gikan sa local nga kagamhanan ngadto sa nasudnong pangagamhanan, apan hangtod walay nahitabo.

Karon, nagbaniog na ang pagpang-resign sa mga doctor sa maong hospital. Unsa may option sa city government aron mapugngan kini ug mapadayon ang pag-atiman sa mga pasyenti.

Dunay gitanyag nga solusyon si Kongresista Rufus Rodriguez sa Segundo distrito apan gibaliwala sa pamunoan ni Mayor Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula.

Ang tanyag ni Rodriguez mao ang paghiusa sa JR Borja Memorial City Hospital isip extension sa Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

Isalindot nato ang politika niining sitwasyona. Tan-awon daw nato ang bentaha.

Naproybahan na, ubos sa pagdumala sa city government walay nahimong kalamboan ang city hospital – inanay nga nagkaguba ang edipisyo, kuwang og kahimanan, demoralize na ang mga doctor ug mga personnel sa hospital. Sa laktod dugay nang napabayaan ang panginahanglan sa tambalanan.

Sa offer ni Rodriguez, dili pod nato maseguro nga mapundohan ba gyud ang city hospital unya mapalit ang mga panginahanglan paghimo nga modernong hospital.

Kon atong tan-awon ang NMMC, nagkulang pa man gani sa iyang mga kahimanan ug personnel.

Kining problema sa city hospital nahitabo usab sa ubang siyudad sa Pilipinas.

Nahibaw ko nga nakahibaw atong mga namunoan unsaon pagsulbad niining klase sa problema. Pero, hangtod nga dili gyud bation niining mga politiko, administrador, ug mga opisyal sa gobiyerno, ang kalisod sa doctor ug mga pasyenti diha sa publikong tambalanan, magpabilin gyud ang maong suliran.

Hinaut ko lang nga makigkompetensya na atong gobiyerno sa pribadong tambalanan aron makita nato unya ang kahapsay, epetibo, ug kamoderno sa publikong hospital. Opinyon Sun.Star

“What happened now to the JR Borja hospital is that there is mismanagement, and our good medical professionals who [...]]]> With doctors’ exodus, hospital is nearing paralysis, says Rep. Rodriguez

CITY Hall is to blame for the series of resignations of doctors at the city-run JR Borja General Hospital, Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.

“What happened now to the JR Borja hospital is that there is mismanagement, and our good medical professionals who have offered their services there can’t work effectively as they would want to because they lacked support from the City Government,” Rep. Rodriguez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in a phone interview.

Rep. Rodriguez authored the bill that would have increased funding for the dilapidated hospital by placing it under the better-equipped Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

Officials had earlier confirmed the resignations of at least 13 doctors, nearly half of the hospital’s regular resident physicians. Three more were set to leave late last week, a hospital insider told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

If the situation worsens, the City Hall-operated hospital may be heading for paralysis, crippling its already deteriorating services as a result.
Already, the hospital has cut its consultation to cope up with personnel losses, reducing in effect the volume of patients that can be accommodated in a day.

Poor pay and poor working conditions are among the reasons cited by the doctors in tendering their resignations, said the Sun.Star source, who is also a physician.

What cemented the physicians’ decision to leave the hospital was when City Hall blocked Rodriguez’s bill, the source said.

The bill would have helped the hospital in terms of better facilities and higher compensation for the medical staff, the physician said.
Rodriguez said the resignations were a

“wake up call for our City Government. Had they not objected the bill, the salary grades of nurses and doctors would have increased dramatically because they would be paid by the National Government.

Under the salary grade in the national level, the lawmaker said nurses would receive P18,000 per month and P25,000 to P28,000 for doctors.
Rodriguez also clarified earlier reports that he already dropped the bill.

He said the proposed measure is now pending at the Senate health committee because Mayor Constantino Jaraula had earlier written the then committee chairman, Sen. Pia Cayetano, expressing City Hall’s objection to the bill.

“Medyo na-divide karon ang Senate because of Mayor Jaraula’s objection,” Rodriguez said. “But I already passed around 18 resolutions signed by 18 barangay officials who expressed their intention favoring the annexation of the City Hospital to the NMMC.

The bill being parochial in nature, he said some senators are hesitant to support it because of the local government’s opposition.

Rodriguez said the ball is now in the hands of the City Hall, saying the bill may be revived again if Jaraula reconsiders the administration’s position on the matter. by Annabelle L. Ricalde of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

The year 2009 started for us here in J.R. Borja General Hospital with several loses. At the onset of the year we lost the leadership of our dynamic chief, Dra. Dures Fe Escaro Tagayuna. We were left like a ship without a captain yet we have to survive and indeed we did.

A little [...]]]>

The year 2009 started for us here in J.R. Borja General Hospital with several loses. At the onset of the year we lost the leadership of our dynamic chief, Dra. Dures Fe Escaro Tagayuna. We were left like a ship without a captain yet we have to survive and indeed we did.

A little later in February 28, 2009, we again suffered another loss but this time it was the life of a colleague, our utility foreman, Mrs. Consolacion Gales Mercado succumbed to cancer after three months of battling the disease. We suffered the lose of the life of a woman who makes a silent crowd suddenly alive with her lively and hilarious jokes.

In little less than a month we again lost another active and concerned member of the family, Dr. Raymundo “JOJO’ Manalo Reyes one of our good doctors who suffered colon cancer since April of 2008. Dr. Jojo joined his creator on March 23, 2009.

What a start! Three losses in a row! January, February, March.

Consolacion Abrogueña Gales Mercado, Mam Cholie to the hospital staffs was born on August 30, 1945 in Baluarte Tagoloan. She got married to the late Max Mercado of Molugan, Opol, Misamis Oriental. She was a public official of their municipality before joining City Hospital in 1998. She was a well loved person who loves to crack joke that makes a sleepy crowd alive, she cooks well and loves to let her friends and colleagues taste what she prepares.

Raymundo “Jojo” Manalo Reyes, Doc Jojo to us all was born on January 23, 1959 in Manila . He spent his elementary and high school years with the University of Santo Tomas and finished his medical course in Perpetual Help College . He was first connected with the Lung Center of the Phil. He later joined the Medical staff of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and stayed with them for 7 years.

He got married in August 21, 1991 to a Cagay-anon lady, Pilar Ilogon De Guia. He went to work in the US in 1996 where he and his family decided to permanently reside in 1997. The family again decided to return to the Philippines in 2001 after deliberating as to where they could possibly raise their family in an atmosphere of peace and quiet. He joined the J.R. Borja General Hospital in 2002 and endeared himself to all especially the rank and file who loves his easy and outgoing manner and camaraderie. He loves to be in the company of the common boys who look up to him as their friend, leader and ally. His demise is indeed a big loss to us all. He is survived by his wife Mam Pilar and his 2 kids, Paige and Paulo.

Dr. Oliveros earned his M.D. from Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City. He served his Intership and residency training in Pediatrics at Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial [...]]]> J. R. Borja General Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. John Paul L. Oliversos to the Department of Pediatrics as the new Pediatrician.

Dr. Oliveros earned his M.D. from Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City. He served his Intership and residency training in Pediatrics at Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital (Riverside Medical Center), Bacolod City.

This explains why there was strong opposition to House Bill 239 because the proposed measure supposedly threatens to cut off a big source of kickbacks [...]]]> Placing the JR Borja Memorial General Hospital under the national government would mean ridding city hall of a major source of corruption, two lawyers and a former PaDayon Pilipino ally said.

This explains why there was strong opposition to House Bill 239 because the proposed measure supposedly threatens to cut off a big source of kickbacks from hospital supplies, medicines and equipment, according to lawyers Manuel Ravanera and Rogelio Bagabuyo and Gusa barangay chairperson Enrico Salcedo.

Ravanera, a vocal critic of the ruling PaDayon Pilipino, alleged that corruption in the city hospital has been documented. he also alleged that supplies – from powdered soap to bond papers and medicines – were found to be overpriced.

Ravanera said the evidence include vouchers, invoices, logbook photocopies and delivery receipts. These, he said, were kept by a group of city hospital staff members “who could no longer stand the graft practices.”

Ravanera has used the documents as bases for 32 counts of graft charges against Dr. Jerie Calingasan, a former chief of the hospital, division heads and Vice Mayor Vicente Emano.

The amount, according to Ravanera, involved some P18 million. He said members of the hospital staff are standing as the complainants.

He said invoices showed the purchase of eight kilos of Zoom Detergent Powder costing P11,500 or at P1,437.00 per kilo and another for the purchase of a food conveyor with 36 trays for P119,500.

“What kind of a detergent powder costs P1,437 per kilo? A food conveyor used to deliver food around the hospital at almost P120,000? Why not just buy a small truck?” Ravanera asked rhetorically.

Salcedo, Gusa’s village chief, said there were signs that the city hospital, including its staff, would be used by politicians for the 2010 elections.

This early, he said, city hall has prevented city hospital workers in helping in medical outreaches initiated by officials perveived to be political enemies of the PaDayon Pilipino.

Bagabuyo, meanwhile, cited a report from the Commission on Audit (COA) which questioned transactions involving the city hospital.

In the 2007 COA report, Bagabuyo said there were two violations pointed out by the Commission. These, he said, were the distribution of P15 million worth of medicines without complete inventory documents and the “receipt mess” involving P4 million.

Bagabuyo also cited COA’s 2006 report that showed that over P26 million in medicines, dental and other supplies were “erroneously accounted” by the Emano administration.

“Of course, these are deliberate errors. The city hospital needs a new management. Therefore, there is the need to support HB 239.” he said.

HB 239 seeks the “upgrade and modernization of the JR Borja City Memorial hospital as an extension hospital of the Northern Mindanao medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de oro…”

The bill would mean an allocation of around P127 million for the 100-bed hospital which was assessed by the Department of Health as a mere secondary hospital as of August last year.

The proposal is now pending for third and final hearing at the Senate.

By LIZANILLA AMARGA
Correspondent Gold Star Daily
Published Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Editor: Herbie Gomez

The group has sought the help of Manuel Ravanera, the same lawyer who filed on behalf of a group of doctors [...]]]> A GROUP of doctors, nurses and other staff members at the JR Borja General Hospital are organizing themselves to call for the passage of House Bill 239. They want the city hall-run hospital “fully nationalized.”

The group has sought the help of Manuel Ravanera, the same lawyer who filed on behalf of a group of doctors and hospital staff members 32 counts of graft charges against former city hospital chief Dr. Jerie Calingasan and eight others, including Vice Mayor Vicente Emano.

Ravanera said the group has long complained over the lack of medicines, supplies and could not properly give medical care to the needy because, supposedly, it has not been getting enough support from the local government.

He said the group is not content with the softened stand of the city council on HB 239 as contained in a recent resolution.

“They do not want the city government to be a conduit for our city hospital. They want our city hospital to be fully nationalized,” he said. By “fully nationalized,” the group means placing the city hospital completely under national government through the health department.

Mayor Constantino Jaraula and most councilors earlier opposed HB 239 saying it was filed without proper consultation. They also called the move “unconstitutional and confiscatory” as ownership and the hospital’s management would now be placed under the Department of Health (DOH).

But, eventually, the city council softened and supported HB 239 on condition that city hall would become a conduit for the P127 million in annual funds that would be set aside by the DOH and that it would retain control over the city hospital.

But Ravanera said an open letter has been issued by the group as a response to city hall’s softened stand.
The letter outlines several advantages and only two disadvantages should HB 239 be fully approved under the tenor of its original authors, Reps. Rufus Rodriguez and Uy.

Among the advantages the group pointed out is that the direction for the JRBGH would be in line with the new public management system of the health sector. The group said JRBGH would have a regular budget share from the DOH and not rely completely with the meager budget the city government is giving.

Also, they said, it is the DOH which has access to overseas funding agencies that regulary provide the health sector and can direct some of the aid to the JRBGH.

Another advantage, the group said, is that regular training for the JRBGH staff would be undertaken and that foreign-funded training courses through the DOH would be available thus enhancing the services offered by the city hospital. “Infrastructure completion can be factored into the short, medium and long-term plans of DOH for the JRBGH, hence completing the whole hospital as a Medical Center in probably five to 10 years,” a portion of the group’s letter reads.

For them, the retention of income would allow the hospital to continue to improve its facilities and equipment. Also, the group said, a “revolving drug fund” could also be put into place immediately to correct the dearth of drugs and medicines. “Emergency drugs shall then be always available for the hospital clientele and that suppliers will not hesitate to negotiate with nationalized hospital,” the group said.

The group sad DOH administrative orders would provide the “best milieu and work conditions” for the staff of the JRBGH as benefits would be provided and the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers could be fully implemented. They said the national qualification standards and the career path for the health sector would be implemented.

“It shall continue to be a City Hospital for Cagayan de Oro City but, more responsive to the City’s needs,” the letter reads. It said the hospital could become an upgraded and properly managed hospital that can provide the necessary tertiary health care while Northern Mindanao Medical Center could be allowed to develop and provide sub-specialty care.

“This will then mean that patients who need transplant surgery, advanced cardio-vascular and thoracic surgery, neurosurgery and other services need not go to Cebu or Manila for such.” the letter reads.

The two disadvantages include how ownership would not anymore rest with the local government and that hiring, firing and the management would be taken care of by the national government.

By LIZANILLA AMARGA
Correspondent
Gold Star Daily
Published Tuesday, February 3, 2009