Talisay to renew contract with VSMMC

CEBU, Philippines – To ensure that they get the proper medical care without having to worry on their financial capabilities, the Talisay City government is set to renew its contract with Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for free hospitalization of its indigent constituents.

The city council, during its regular session the other day, gave Mayor Socrates Fernandez the go-signal to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the government-run hospital.

"Whereas, in an effort to strengthen and improve the delivery of basic services especially on the aspect of health, the City of Talisay is incessantly providing medical assistance to indigent members of the 22 barangays," read a portion of the resolution, which was approved last Tuesday.

Councilor Semy Cabuenas, chairman on council committee on Social Welfare and Services and author of the resolution that gives authority to the mayor, said this is a "renewal" of a MOA with VSMMC which was started in 2007.

The former barangay chief of Lagtang said the program guarantees that even those indigent patients all over the city will still get medical care for free.

Under the MOA, per patient is entitled to a maximum aid of P3,000.

The social welfare and development office of Felipa Solana facilitates requests.

To avail of the program, patients have to submit to the hospitals billing section a CSWD-issued referral slip.

There is already an existing Talisay District Hospital in barangay San Isidro but it appears that the facility is not functioning really well as most of its patients who are brought there are either left unattended or referred to other hospitals in Cebu City.

The number of complaints against the hospital is increasing, starting with allegedly an unreceptive staff to poor services.

And before admission, a patient has to pay P100 for his medical record.

And, if he has to be rushed to another hospital, he will again pay at least P200 for the use of an ambulance.

The hospital is run by the national government, but has the support of the city hall, which provides additional working staff, among other things.

Local officials, even those living across the hospital, seem to be impervious to the situation. (THE FREEMAN)