Senate approves bills to increase bed capacity of 2 hospitals

The Senate today approved on third and final reading two bills seeking to increase the bed capacity of two hospitals in Quezon City and San Fernando, Pampanga to improve the delivery of basic health services in the areas.

Senator Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Committee on Health and Demography and sponsor of the proposed measures, said House Bill No. 5622 seeks to increase the bed capacity of the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QCMC) in Quezon City from 350 beds to 500 beds while Senate Bill No. 2853 seeks to increase the bed capacity of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga from 250 beds to 500 beds. House Bill No. 5622 and Senate Bill 2853 were approved with 19 affirmative votes, 0 negative vote and 0 abstention with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senators Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Pia Cayetano, Miriam-Defensor Santiago, Franklin Drilon, Chiz Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan III, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Kiko Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla, Jr. Antonio Trillanes IV and Manuel Villar voting for the approval of the measures. Despite its limited subsidy and insufficient bed capacity, Cayetano said the QCMC continues to provide health care services not only to residents of Quezon City but also to patients from nearby areas like Marikina, Antipolo, San Mateo, Montalban, Caloocan, Novaliches, Laguna, Bulacan and Cavite.

She said the hospital's 2010 annual Statistic Report showed that there was an average of 2.7 patients occupying a single bed, far beyond the hospital's limits.

Cayetano said QCMC garnered several awards including the Gawad Kalasag Award on the Local and National Level given by the National Disaster Coordinating Council in 2010, Best Medical Institution Advocating Disaster Risk Management and the Red Orchid Award given by the Department of Health (DOH) for implementing a 100 percent tobacco free environment.

"A medical institution that is as reliable and meritorious as QCMC greatly deserves our support. If its 350 bed capacity served a considerable number of patients, an additional 150 will help more ailing Filipinos and improve the hospital's current condition," Cayetano said in her sponsorship speech.

Likewise, she said increasing the bed capacity of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital will improve delivery of health services to the people.

Cayetano cited the National Statistics Office which pegged the city's population at 300,000 in 2010. The number is expected to double in 19 years.

"Eventually, inadequacy of medical equipment and facilities severely necessary to provide health services to the people of San Fernando and in the adjacent areas arose because of the gradual yet steady boom of its population," she said.

"In addition to providing additional rooms to accommodate the increase in the bed capacity, existing service facilities, professional health services and workforce of the hospital will correspondingly be upgraded," she added.

Cayetano said increasing the bed capacity of both hospitals will not entail additional funding since the creation of additional beds will be covered by the existing budget of the DOH. (PILAR MACROHON, PRIB)