Guba hospital control eyed for Vicente Sotto center
CEBU City officials are looking into a proposal to turn over management of a hospital in barangay Guba to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
They also agreed last Wednesday to hold two regular sessions “off site” in the mountain barangays of Bonbon on Oct. 12 and Guba on 26.
The change of venue will be held on a trial basis, said Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young. The proposal of Councilor Noel Wenceslao aims to bring the city government closer to mountain residents.
Councilor Ronald Cuenco said the City Legal Office should review a proposal by Rep. Rachel del Mar to transfer management of the Guba hospital to the VSMMC.
A copy of the draft agreement was presented to the council.
Cuenco said the Guba hospital like the St. Anthony’s Mother and Child hospital in Basak San Nicolas were established as VSMMC extension hospitals.
VSMMC, the former Southern Islands Hospital, was devolved to the Cebu City government as a result of the 1991 Local Government Code .
Dr. Gloria Duterte, Cebu City Medical Center chief, said they will hire two more doctors and additional health personnel to augment the Guba hospital staff.
Guba hospital, which is classified as a primary hospital, only caters to normal deliveries and outpatients.
Patients who need more medical attention are transported by ambulance to CCMC after being given first aid treatment.
As a primary hospital Guba has a 10-bed capacity.
Duterte said she wanted this increased to 25 beds if upgraded as a level 1 hospital.
She said those working in Guba hospital would be absorbed by the VSMMC.
The Cebu City government will still be involved in running the hospital, with the mayor to chair the hospital board along with a Department of Education official.
Others include the CCMC hospital chief, health committee chairman and the Guba barangay captain.
Despite this, CCMC is still required to continue appropriating funds to the Guba hospital for its maintenance and other operating expenses and personnel services.
