Rama says CCMC should be run like private hospital

IF the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) is run like a private hospital independent from political intervention, services would be better.

Mayor Michael Rama said this as he pushed for an amendment to the ordinance on CCMC’s management to make sure that only the medical director is on top of its operations.

He said that politics and the involvement of several people in hospital’s operations sometimes lead to corruption.

“Corruption sometimes happen when the opportunity is provided,” he said.

A way to address this issue, the mayor said, is for CCMC to be independent from the city government even if it continues to be funded by the city.

The hospital’s operation gets at least P300 million from City Hall this year.

52nd ANNIVERSARY

Rama graced the celebration of CCMC’s 52nd founding anniversary last Friday. He led the blessing and ribbon cutting of the new animal bite center at the hospital’s ground floor and the newly renovated office of medical director Gloria Duterte.

The mayor commended Duterte for improvements in hospital’s management and operations.

Duterte, for her part, said that aside from extending medical aid, a conference room beside her office is now being used as training center for medical practitioners especially nurses who want to learn the Japanese language.

Rama said this is a welcome development especially with proposals by a Japanese investor to put up a medical facility at the South Road Properties.

He told Duterte that he is looking forward to seeing more hospital improvements, even as he continued to call for the amendment of the CCMC ordinance.

“There should be a clear set up on how and when politicians can take part in CCMC operations,” he said. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac