LCGH execs deny bankruptcy issue

 

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Laoag City—Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) officials strongly denied allegations that the hospital is on the “verge of bankruptcy”.

In a press conference held October 1, 2o20 at the LCGH, chief of clinics Dr. Mary Ann Yasay-Luis and hospital administrator Dr. Elizer Asuncion presented the accounts payable of the hospital since June 2011 to June 2019, in the amount of PHP78 million. The debt is to hospital suppliers.

The longtime LCGH administrator said the new administration “unluckily inherited” these payables. He added “it’s not easy to manage the hospital without fund available on its day-to-day operation, however, the operation of the hospital must continue to operate in order to serve the people who are in need of medical assistance”.

Mr. Asuncion also pointed out that when the new city administration assumed the reins of power, LCGH was already living akin to “isang kahig, isang tuka” existence.

Due to the PHP78 million debt, the supply of drugs and medicines at the pharmacy stopped; there were also no medical supplies for the laboratory department, dialysis center, radiology department and its different areas at the hospital; there were also no janitorial supplies; no office supplies needed; and no available fund for the different programs, projects and activities of the hospital.

Mr. Asuncion likewise reported the on-and-off damaged hospital equipment including the dialysis machines, x-ray machines and the totally damaged CT scan, 2D echo, anesthesia machine and others.

He asserted that this is the reason LCGH revenues were low as some patients declined hospitalization due to the numerous supply problems.

Pediatrics department head Dr. Zarah A. Ramos also presented the census of the hospital from 2019 up to the present proving that the hospital is still surviving as the “people’s choice for medical assistance”.

Ms. Ramos reported that the census from the different departments of the hospital compared statistics from the 2019 up to the present.

For 2019, the hospital admitted 21,376 at the out-patient department (OPD) compared for this year’s 5,271 as of August; ER patients admitted were 13,206 (2019) and 4,003 for this year as of August; operating room admitted 835 (2019) and 689 as of September this year; hemodialysis patients admitted were 334 in 2019 while 1,753 for this year as of September; endoscopy patients admitted were 204 in 2019 while 99 for 2020; heart station had 1,971 patients in 2019 while 873 for 2020; MICU was 514 in 2019 while 259 for 2020; and PICU was 83 while 15 for 2020 .

For the radiological procedure in 2020, the hospital served 2,698 X-ray, 1,010 ultrasound and 46 MRI.

With the census reported, the secretary of the medical staff asked to “let the public decide if the LCGH is still needed for medical assistance or not considering the number of patients admitted”.

Ms. Ramos also informed the public that the low admittance this year was due to the COVID-19 pandemic wherein the hospital does not accept COVID-19 patients and at the same time the people are afraid to go to the hospitals for check-ups because they are afraid they may contract virus and that they might be suspected as positive cases.

OB department head Dr. Yolanda De Silva also shared some point of views with respect to the hospital.

Ms. De Silva disclosed that all doctors at the LCGH are well trained in their respective specializations or medical field of expertise.

Despite the hospital’s condition, these doctors still decided to stay because they want to help and serve not only the people of Laoag but the entire province as well.

 

Keon vetoes council resolution

Relative to this, Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon vetoed an earlier resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod “appealing to professionals in the field of health who are either bona fide residents or trace their roots in the city of Laoag both here and abroad to lend their expertise pro bono in transforming the LCGH from a health institution on the verge of bankruptcy to a truly earning economic enterprise”.

Mr. Keon said the measure failed to state the present status of the hospital, hence, misinforming the public and prejudicial to the public welfare.

With numerous findings discovered at the city hospital, Mr. Keon ordered Mr. Asuncion and all employees to “save the hospital from bankruptcy and make it a truly economic enterprise”.

“The hospital is at present in good hands with competent health experts and bona fide residents of Laoag,” according to the mayor.

The mayor further disclosed that programs to save the LCGH from the “verge of bankruptcy” into a truly earning economic enterprise was already included in the Annual Investment Program tapping health experts and other health professionals in the preparation of the public investment programs if needed.

The mayor likewise noted that the City Development Council has submitted programs for the improvement of the LCGH to the Sangguniang Panlungsod but were not acted upon and that this should be a wake-up call to the council “if they truly desire to save the hospital”. 

Reacting to this, vice mayor and council presiding officer Vicentito M. Lazo responded to the veto message saying the local chief executive can only veto the following under Section 55 of RA 7160:

“An ordinance that is considered ultra vires (not within the power of the SP to enact); An ordinance that is prejudicial to the public welfare;

“An appropriation ordinance; An ordinance adopting a local development plan and public investment program; A resolution adopting a local development plan and public investment program;

“An ordinance directing the payment of money; and

An ordinance creating a liability”.

He stressed that the resolution approved was not a resolution adopting a local government plan program, hence, there is no legal basis for the exercise of the mayor’s veto power as provided for in Section 55 of RA 7160.