Increase CCMC consultants’ pay, say councilors

A PROPOSAL to increase the honorariums of doctor consultants at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) is being pushed at the Cebu City Council.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao said that if the 2012 budget would still allow, an increase should especially be given to doctors getting an honorarium of only P4,000 to P6,000 a month.

Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa agreed with the suggestion.

Abellanosa said that since the CCMC consultants would no longer be able to collect professional fees (PFs), then there might be a need to increase the honorarium they’re receiving from the city government.

Wenceslao’s suggestion followed the council’s approval during their July 18 session of Cuenco’s resolutions allowing the renewal of contracts of CCMC consultant-doctors.

Cuenco said he already introduced amendments to the consultants contract including a provision which would prevent them from collecting PFs since they’re collecting honorariums from the city.

CCMC now has 36 consultants, said Dr. Ferdinand Kionisala, of the surgery department who report to the hospital on an “on call basis”.

Kionisala said the consultants were helping train CCMC resident doctors.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. also supported the proposal.

Under the present set up, only consultants who are also designated as head to the different CCMC departments are getting honorarium ranging from P15, 000 to P18,000 per month. Those under them are getting less.

“Look at the disparity of the honorarium. Other consultants are getting only P4,000 a month while the others are getting P18,000,” said Pe.

The increase in honorariums, however, will depend if there are funds for it in the 2012 budget.

“Even if we find a budget (for the increase in honorarium), there is no guideline for the purpose,” said Councilor Margot Osmena, budget committee chairperson.

The City Council, however, tasked Osmena’s committee to look for the funds and to see the guidelines for the increase./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac