Rama wants city gov’t to keep Guba hospital

Cebu City won’t turn over management of the Guba hospital to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday.

The mayor said he wants to meet with city and health officials to clarify the issue.

“It’s like we’re surrendering the hospital to the province,” the mayor said.

Rama said the Guba hospital should continue to serve the mountain barangays where it is stationed.

A draft agreement for the turnover of the Guba hospital to Vicente Sotto Medical Center was furnished to the City Legal Office for review.

Councilor Ronald Cuenco said the Guba hospital used to be an extension of Vicente Sotto Medical Center before it was devolved to the city.

Cuenco said Rep. Rachel del Mar of Cebu City’s north district supported the turnover of the Guba hospital.  But Rama said residents of barangay Guba should be consulted on this.

The mayor said he promised in his State of the City Address that he wants improvements in the Guba hospital.

Under the draft agreement, the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) will turn over management of the Guba hospital to Vicente Sotto who would also take care of existing hospital personnel.

The mayor said Del Mar could help fund the Guba hospital’s operations through her pork barrel.

“If we turn the hospital over and their budget still comes from the Cebu City Medical Center, then that’s not right,” Rama said.

The hospital is hiring additional doctors and a dietician, dentist and other hospital personnel to raise its standing as a level 1 hospital.

Operated as a primary hospital with a 10-bed capacity, the Guba hospital caters to normal child delivery and outpatient services. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac