7 hospitals take in CCMC patients

CEBU, Philippines - Seven hospitals in Cebu City have agreed to take in the patients from the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) that have been displaced after the city-owned hospital was found to be unsafe for occupancy following last Tuesday's earthquake.

At least 100 patients will be accommodated at Velez General Hospital, Miller Adventist Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital, Visayas Community Medical Center, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Cebu Doctors University Hospital, and Chong Hua Hospital

The agreement was reached following a meeting between hospital officials and Mayor Michael Rama yesterday morning.

The city had to meet the hospital officials after CCMC was forced to house patients at a sports complex near the hospital - others, even on the road right outside - after they had to be moved out of the facility at the height of the quake. 

"We'd like to share this good development that transpired after our meeting with private and public hospitals. They all committed to accommodate our patients from CCMC. With this, we will be expecting zero patients at the streets," announced Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos.

Delos Santos, designated by the mayor to handle hospital matters, said eight ambulances were deployed to transport the 107 patients admitted initially at CCMC.

"Among the hospitals, VSMMC, St. Anthony and VCMC specified to only accept OB-GYN and surgical patients. By tonight (Wednesday), every patient must be inside a hospital," the councilor said.

The seven hospitals also agreed to accept transferred patients even without down payment as long as there is a letter of intent from the city government.

Prior to the agreement with the hospitals, the city considered to place the patients at St. Anthony, a hospital being run by the Department of Health (DOH); Cebu City Sports Center; Plaza Independencia, and Fuente Osmeña.

Further, five mother health centers have been identified and opened to cater to outpatient concerns particularly those in Barangays Mabolo, Punta Princesa, Talamban, Carreta, and Bulacao.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) reported complete restoration of its operations yesterday. Operations chief Engr. Astro Logarta said consumers must not be alarmed of the slightly dark colored water since they are still in the process of "flushing" to clean it completely.

Electricity was also restored completely yesterday, said power provider Visayan Electric Company (VECO).

In a related development, Vice President Jejomar Binay is scheduled to visit Cebu today.

Binay is expected to arrive at 9:15 a.m. today and will visit Basilica del Santo Niño Church before he will proceed to CCMC. From the hospital, Binay will attend a briefing on the current state of Cebu at the city's command center at the City Hall.

In the afternoon, Binay will proceed to Tagbilaran City, Bohol to meet church officials and priests at St. Joseph's Cathedral. He will also visit the areas affected by the quake. – (FREEMAN)