Higher rates for Mandaue hospital sought

The Mandaue City Local Health Board is asking the city council to adopt an ordinance seeking an increase in Mandaue City District Hospital's laboratory fees and room rates.

The board, chaired by Mayor Thadeo Ouano, has claimed that since the implementation of the 12 percent Expanded-Value Added Tax, prices of laboratory supplies and the budget meal for the patients have also increased.

Aside from this, the board is also requesting for the increase in the consultancy fee of the hospital's pathologist from P2,000 to P5,000 per month.

Local Health Board resolution No. 3 series which was approved last May 30 stated that the hospital's private rooms be increased from P900 per day to P1,200 per day; semi-private from P550 per day to P700 per day, and pay ward from P275 per day to PhilHealth rate.

Other increases being sought include increases in CBC from P100 to P150, pregnancy test from P100 to P150, blood donor screening from P1,200 to P1,500, lipid panel from P450 to P750, and cholesterol test from P120 to P150.

Hospital director Dr. Dominga G. Obenza, had informed the board that the approved annual budget allocation for the hosiptal for some items were already utilized for the second quarter.

With this, she is requesting for a supplemental budget of P8,462,000 for medical, dental and laboratory expenses, drugs and medicine supplies, electricity expenses, food supplies expenses, among others.

City Councilor Wenceslao Gakit, who is the committee chairman on health at the city council said that by next week, an ordinance will be submitted to the council for such requests and for approval. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan