As CCMC gets new administrator: City Hall executives told to help improve city hospital

CEBU, Philippines – Acting Mayor Michael Rama yesterday instructed all City Hall department heads to help the Cebu City Medical Center improve its performance as he appointed a new administrator for the hospital.

Rama yesterday called for a closed-door meeting with all department heads to discuss their activities while Mayor Tomas Osmeña is in the United States.

While Rama explained that he is not opposing Osmeña’s idea to sell the 48-year-old hospital, he told the department heads to help so the performance of the hospital would improve.

He then created a team of City Hall officials who will be given a task to help manage the CCMC.

Rama appointed Rene Sanapo, one of Osmeña’s trusted consultants, to act as the hospital’s administrator even if he is not a doctor.

The acting mayor said CCMC chief Myrna Go will now report directly to Sanapo, who is also the head of the Mayor’s Management Team and is given the title as “deputy mayor.”

Two months ago, Rama also designated Frank Japson, husband of Councilor Leah Japson, to help improve the security of the hospital. Rama said Japson will now report to Sanapo.

Rama, however, refused to reveal the recommendations of the team from the Department of Health who had inspected the CCMC a few days ago.

The acting mayor also did not assure that part of the unspent appropriations from the previous years would be used to purchase medical equipment to improve the hospital’s performance.

Former mayor and then deputy health minister Florentino Solon said City Hall should have a consortium with private hospitals and medical schools to ensure that its doctors and residents are well-trained and are exposed to as many medical cases as possible, to improve the quality of service. – Rene U. Borromeo/LPM (THE FREEMAN)