Guv denies reports of gov’t hospital’s closure

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday denied reports that a capitol-run hospital will shut down.

“It is not true that there will be government hospitals closed down. All existing hospitals, whether provincial or district hospitals, will continue to operate,” Lacson said.

He added that the provincial government is in the process of identifying which hospital will undergo upgrading.

For a start, the provincial government will focus on four hospitals “meaning to say we will put on our resources there and when they have reached Level II, then we go to the next hospital because definitely we cannot do this all at the same time.”

The four district hospitals that will be upgraded are located in Cadiz, Kabankalan, Valladolid, and the provincial hospital itself.

“We will upgrade them to Level II but again I will make it clear that all existing hospitals will continue to operate,” Lacson said.

Lacson also said he is considering tapping service providers for dialysis machines in district hospitals to help dialysis patients in the province.

While the cost of dialysis treatment has gone down, Lacson said patients and their families have to spend for transportation and food in going to Bacolod for treatment which is added cost.

He said at least 70 percent of persons asking for medical assistance from his office are in need of dialysis.

For now, only the La Carlota City district hospital has dialysis machines.