Swift Senate okay on SJDH conversion to SOMGH pressed
OCCIDENTAL Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato has appealed to the senators to expedite the approval of a measure that seeks to convert the San Jose District Hospital (SJDH) into the Southern Occidental Mindoro General Hospital (SOMGH).
The bill, which was approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives, will help improve the health system and services in the province of Occidental Mindoro since there is a growing demand for quality medical services.
According to Sato, the people of Occidental Mindoro are looking forward to the upgrade of the formerly emergency hospital, especially amid the continued threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the spread of other life-threatening diseases.
To date, the hospital’s bed occupancy rate (BOR) was at 147.78 percent, while it served 14,336 out-patients; 13,656 emergency cases, and 26,969 admissions.
“The people of Occidental Mindoro deserve to get the best services from their government. They are entitled to quality but accessible healthcare services to ensure that they are fit and healthy. With this modern medical facility, they can get high-class health treatment at affordable cost,” she said.
“I am appealing to the members of the Senate to take into account the health and welfare of the people of Occidental Mindoro and fasttrack the approval of the proposed measure seeking the upgrade of the SJDH into the Southern Occidental Mindoro General Hospital,” she added.
Following its approval last March, the House Bill 8758 which was principally authored by Sato, was immediatelty transmitted to the Senate for legislative action.
Sato had sought to increase the bed capacity of the SJDH from 50 to 200 beds, and to upgrade the hospital’s personnel and facilities as she noted how it has become “an important pillar for medical services within the province of Occidental Mindoro and within the MIMAROPA Region.”
The hospital was first put up on June 15, 1968.
“Accessible quality health service is critical to the quality of life for any province. More so, for an island province such as Occidental Mindoro,” she said, pointing out that the hospital does not only serve the municipality of San Jose, but also caters to the sick from the municipalities of Magsaysay, Rizal and Calintaan, for a total combined population of an estimated 247,535 (PSA record as of 2015).
The SJDH medical team also serves patients from the nearby islands of Palawan, and from the municipality of Caluya, Antique.
“With its increasing load, SJDH resources, its 50 beds capacity and 69 full-time personnel are being stretched beyond its limits. From being an emergency hospital, SJDH is now the only Level 1 hospital with a 50-bed capacity within southern Occidental Mindoro that can perform major surgical procedures, with the nearest alternative Level 1 hospital a good 4 hours away,” she pointed out.
