Osmeña threatens to relieve CCMC chief

CEBU, Philippines – Upset by the complaints made by some dengue patients who were allegedly made to pay for the laboratory tests, Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday threatened to relieve the hospital chief of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) if found that she is not capable to handle her job.

The mayor has instructed Councilor Gerardo Carillo to speed up the investigation into the issue to determine if there are lapses on the side of the hospital management headed by Dr. Myrna Go.

Osmeña said he will not hesitate to replace Go if proven that the latter did not comply with the instructions given to her, particularly on providing free laboratory to patients who are suspected to have dengue.

Carillo revealed he received affidavits from at least two persons who complained that the hospital doctors denied them free laboratory examinations to determine whether they have been afflicted with dengue.

The patients’ relatives who learned that such kind of laboratory test is free as announced by the mayor quickly approached Carillo and complained against the attitude of the CCMC personnel who attended to them. But when they went back to the hospital and insisted that such kind of laboratory test is free, the councilor said the hospital personnel insisted that they shall pay and even issued them official receipts.

“Lain man god kaayo paminawon nga ang mayor mipahibalo na nga walay bayad ang laboratory test ug ubang medical services ngadto sa mga dengue patients unya dili nila tumanon,” Carillo explained.

But he assured that he will give Go and the other CCMC personnel the chance to explain before he will make any formal recommendation to the mayor of what actions should be done against them.

The FREEMAN tried to get the comment of Go but she refused to grant an interview, saying Councilor Christopher Alix is the one who will answer the issue.

However, Alix, who chairs the Committee on Health and Hospital Services of the City Council, also refused to comment and referred back the matter to Go. “Ipatubag na ni Dr. Go,” he said.

Osmeña said that aside from Carillo, he had also asked former city administrator and now City Hall consultant Juan Saul Montecillo to assist in the investigation.

Carillo said he learned that some of the patients are ordered by the doctors to have their laboratory test in private laboratories within the vicinity of the CCMC.

The mayor strongly believed that some of the CCMC doctors are receiving commissions from these private laboratories depending on the number of patients that they have referred to them. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB (THE FREEMAN)