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)

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

Former City Hospital Chief Dr. Vincent Tero disclosed that too much politics played at the city hall-run hospital pushes it into a “pitiful” state.

“The order of the day [...]]]> The facilities and services of the city government-run J.R. Borja General Hospital could have been improved if the equipment, drugs and medicines donated by other sources were accepted.

Former City Hospital Chief Dr. Vincent Tero disclosed that too much politics played at the city hall-run hospital pushes it into a “pitiful” state.

“The order of the day is not to accept any donation coming from the opposition bloc especially from Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Reps. Rolando Uy and Rufus Rodriguez,” he said.

Tero who also served as City Health Officer during the incumbency of Mayor Vicente Emano and then was later detailed to the Philippine National Red Cross –Mindanao Blood Bank when he accommodated some P2 million worth of medicines from Pimentel sometime in 1997.

He said during his stay with the city hospital, he accepted a donation of CT Scan from Pimentel, but he was allegedly ordered to reject the same and later transferred to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

“Naa unta’y CT scan ang city hospital. Dili na unta mobayad ug tag-tres mil ang mga pasyente sa dakbayan kung magpa-CT scan pero wala dawata,” he stressed.

Another CT scan coming from Rep. Uy was about to be delivered to the city hospital last year, but was again rejected by the present administration without any justifiable reason.

Tero said the present administration has made the city hospital into a “pitiful” state including it’s services to the public.

“Bisan gapas ug alcohol wala diha. Tambal pa kaha hinoon,” he added.

A reliable source said that according to the Dr. Tero operating equipment lamps and other equipment are no longer serviceable.

The hospital use fluorescent lamps as incubator for premature babies.

“Ang suga kahulogon. Gihiktan na lang. Mahadlok ang gi-operahan,” he said.

He said that turning-over the entire responsibility of the city hospital to the Department of Health (DOH) is the only solution to uplift the status of the city hospital.

Members of the opposition bloc is set to conduct an investigation on Tero’s disclosures.

Earlier, Dra. Fe Tagayuna, who was appointed by City Mayor Constantino Jaraula to head the city hospital but later resigned from office after she was reportedly detailed to one of the urban barangays.

Assistant Minority Floor Leader Roger Abaday said Tero’s pronouncement is a clear indication that the city hospital has been manage badly.

“Maulaw kita sa katawhan nga instead of improving it’s services to the public it has become an awkward health service provider. This should be corrected,” he said. by LITO RULONA Gold Star Daily News Mindanao

Jaraula said this at Bombo Radyo over the weekend in reaction to the bill of Rep. Rufus Rodriguez seeking to make the city hospital an annex [...]]]> CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula said that the national government can always give financial assistance to JR Borja Memorial City Hospital even if it doesn’t acquire its ownership.

Jaraula said this at Bombo Radyo over the weekend in reaction to the bill of Rep. Rufus Rodriguez seeking to make the city hospital an annex of the national government-owned Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

Both hospitals are located in Cagayan de Oro City; the city hospital in Carmen, the NMMC along Corrales avenue.

Jaraula added that he is not opposed to the city hospital becoming an annex to NMMC provided that there will be no change in ownership.

“If it’s only for operational purpose, then yes, I will not oppose for the city hospital to become an annex of NMMC. But if there is a change of ownership, no,” the mayor bluntly said over the radio.

In justifying his stance, Jaraula said that the efforts of Cagayan de Oro in keeping ownership of the hospital since 40 years ago when it was established would all go in vain once it transfers ownership to the national government.

House Bill 239 provides “for the upgrade and modernization of the J.R. Borja City Memorial Hospital as an extension hospital of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro and appropriating funds therefore.”

Once passed into law, the city hospital would be placed under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (Doh) and thus automatically qualify for yearly funding from the national government’s General Appropriations Act.

JR Borja Memorial City Hospital was named after former Mayor Justiniano R. Borja who also has a street and a statue named after him. By MARK D. FRANCISCO Gold Star Daily News Mindanao

In 2006, the city hospital enjoyed its biggest budget in six years — P123 million — but this amount would dramatically be reduced to around P60 million the following year, [...]]]> THE city-run JR Borja General Hospital hasn’t had a stable budget in recent years, its appropriations rising and falling to resemble that of an erratic curve.

In 2006, the city hospital enjoyed its biggest budget in six years — P123 million — but this amount would dramatically be reduced to around P60 million the following year, or a cut of over P62 million.

On its face, the hospital’s general budget cycle — not counting the exceptional downward spiral in 2007 — has seen a steady growth, rising from over P56 million in 2004 to around P70 million in 2005. From 2007, the funding climbed to over P78 million in 2008, increasing to P83 million this year.

But these increases have largely been driven by inflation and the local government’s administrative obligations to the hospital personnel.

Funds allocated for medicines and life-saving apparatus — lumped under the maintenance, overhead, and operating expense (MOEE) — have remained disproportionate to Cagayan de Oro’s population over the years, and followed the erratic pattern in the general budget.

For example, the MOOE in 2005 saw an increase of over half the amount compared to the previous year — at around P24 million. This amount would only grow by P2 million in 2006, and dropping by a whooping P6.9 million in the succeeding year.

In 2008, the MOEE would again rise to P13 million, or an appropriation of over P32 million.

The additional money for MOEE this year? A meager P215,353.

Specifically, a budget of P4.6 million out of the P32.9 million MOOE for 2009 is allocated for medicines, patient’s subsistence, and medical supplies such as X-ray films, medical oxygen, and nitrogen oxide.

As of August 1, 2007, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) placed the city’s total population at 553,966.

What that means is that at any one time, the local government only sets aside a miniscule P8.30 on medicines and other life-saving apparatus for any patient admitted to the city-run hospital.

To compare, the P123 million budget in 2006 allocated around P23.4 million for medicines and medical supplies.

Noticeably, however, bulk of that budget went to the construction of an additional building amounting to P50 million. The rest was appropriated to hospital equipment such as one unit of operating room table that cost P1.3 million, five units of fire extinguisher that cost P79,550, a unit of ultrasound machine at P4 million, two computer sets at P120,000, a unit of anesthesia machine at P2.3 million, and two ECG machines at P300,000.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro’s analysis of the budget is based on the approved appropriations in the last six years obtained by this paper.

The hospital’s budget has come under scrutiny after several doctors resigned lately, complaining of low pay and poor working conditions. They also lamented the lack of crucial life-saving devices at the hospital, which they said has contributed to its deteriorating services.

Corruption has also tainted the management of the hospital.

In 2007, several employees accused the then hospital chief, Dr. Jerie Calingasan, of graft and corruption. A graft case against Dr. Calingasan is pending at the Ombudsman.

Calingasan, who was stripped of his position at the hospital and reassigned back to the City Health Office, has denied the allegation.

Aided by their lawyer, Manuel Ravanera, the employees alleged that Calingasan made “emergency purchases” that were not actually “emergency” in character. Among the hospital “purchases” was a repair of a Toyota Tamaraw FX and a Kia Besta Ambulance, which amounted to P131,200. Calingasan reimbursed the amount because it supposedly came from his pocket.

There were also purchases of hospital supplies, among others, eight kilos of detergent powder at a price of P11,500.00 or an amount of P1,437.50 per kilo.

In 2006 and 2007, Calingasan was reimbursed the amount P855,939 purportedly due to the “advances” he made to the hospital.

During that period, the complainants alleged that the hospital purchased an overpriced X-ray machine, which cost P6.5 million but supposedly had an actual market price of P3 million. A surgical table that is unbranded and costing P400,000 allegedly purchased at P1.2 million.

These and other irregular transactions were approved by then mayor Vicente Emano, the complaint said.

Last year, a state auditor said in a report that P15 million worth of drugs and medicines at the city-run hospital cannot be accounted.

It is unavoidable, therefore, that during breaks between lectures and workshops we [...]]]> WE are on the last day of a three-day training we are conducting for personnel of the Department of health, Center for Health Development of Northern Mindanao. This is the 3rd batch of similar trainings the Valleser Communications Consultancy is doing for that agency.

It is unavoidable, therefore, that during breaks between lectures and workshops we indulge in some idle talks. At one point, I opened the topic on the possibility of having our beleaguered city hospital to be “cooperative-ized.” This after news that majority of doctors  un the said hospital have left and gone to other hospitals, set up private practice or have immigrated to other countries.

The lack of physicians has forced the city hospital to stop taking care of outpatients on weekends. Trying to put reason to this insane situation, the city officials through the hospital administration, is practically telling city residents not to get sick on weekends or else thsy could not be served – as if we have control as to when to get sick.

Well, it is normal for doctors to move around and seek greener pasture. The critical lack of physicians at the city hospital, however, is a phenomenon unique to itself. What keeps doctors away from the city hospital is not the low pay; neither is it the very demanding character of being in a public health system.

Ask those who have been there and they will tell you the real reason. They are tired and nauseated by the way dirty politics has seeped into what should have been an apolitical system. Doctors are forced to play politics by trying to reason out to patients why their services degenerated so much.

Even if doctors are gods and can cure even with just cotton and Q-tips, this would not be possible at city hospital. One of the doctors who have left the hospital told “Table talk” that he left because he wanted to keep the dignity of the medical profession.

having a cooperative hospital is not a novel idea. Other smaller and bigger cities in the country have done it. Our city officials should not be ashamed to accept their inability to run and manage a hospital. it’s time they should seriously think of turning it over to a cooperative.

It’s gutter politics that’s flushing our city hospital down the gutters!

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

In an interview, assistant chief of hospital Philip Medalle quickly dismissed the idea though that the new memorandum is already the result of the lack of [...]]]> Haunted by lack of physicians, the management of JR Borja Memorial City Hospital recently issued an advisory that there will be no more patient consultation available on Saturdays and Sundays.

In an interview, assistant chief of hospital Philip Medalle quickly dismissed the idea though that the new memorandum is already the result of the lack of doctors.

“But this policy is also allegedly done in other government hospitals. We still serve despite constraitns on equipment and doctors,” he said.

Meanwhile, Medalle said he is denying a newspaper report (not this publication) that there are no more doctors left at the city hospital located in Carmen.

Medalle said there are still 17 physicians left employed at the city hospital.But Medalle admitted that 18 of the 35 physicians earlier employed by the city hospital have already left.

A few of these doctors were already in “greener pasteurs” and have resigned for “professional upliftment.” The rest are with other local government units.

Medall theorized that the less stressful workload of other local government units was probably enticing to the doctors.

“But we did not lose these doctors in one time. It was over a period of time,” he said. He also said that the remaining doctors are happy that their colleagues are now with other local government units.

He emphasized that JR Borja Memorial City Hospital is just a secondary hospital and is serving the poorest among the poor. Medalle said he has been with the hospital for over 20 years. by Susan Palmes GoldStarDaily.

“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