PGH chief gets second term to continue upgrade efforts

Philippine General Hospital director Dr. Carmelo Alfiler was given a second term, ensuring the continuation of efforts to "benchmark PGH as one of the best national university hospitals in Asia and the world" as it now approaches its centennial year in 2007.

In its 1215th meeting on Nov. 24, the University of the Philippines Board of Regents (BOR) voted to extend Alfiler’s term. It was under Alfiler’s stewardship that the PGH embarked on its massive "modernizing, upgrading, rehabilitating, and reinventing" programs.

Alfiler’s second term covers the period of Jan. 1, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2009. He was first appointed to the post on Jan. 1, 2004.

While PGH is the leading national tertiary referral center and teaching hospital in the country, it receives only around P1.1 billion in annual budget allocations from the national government. Because of this, the hospital relies heavily on donations.

Through the various initiatives begun by Alfiler, the PGH won the support of the local and national government and their attached agencies, and private sector-based support in the Philippines and from overseas.

The hospital’s "philanthropic pool" for the patients’ needs, hospital equipment, supplies and infrastructure programs also expanded. As a result, support for patient care, health workers’ benefits and developmental projects increased or became available.

Records showed that, from Jan. 1, 2004 to Nov. 30, 2006, the total expenditures on PGH-initiated infrastructure projects reached some P100 million, while the cost of purchases reached P144 million.

President Arroyo, who released P100 million for the rehabilitation of PGH, was one of its biggest donors. At least 160 legislators from the Senate and the House of Representatives contributed a sizable amount form their priority development assistance fund for PGH patients’ medical needs and for hospital equipment.

The Senate Spouses Foundation shouldered the renovation of eight charity wards at a cost of P20.3 million while the Spanish government’s Agencia Española Cooperation International modernized the Department of Emergency Medical Services to the tune of $13.3 million and donated the $8-million Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal (Jose Rizal Ophthalmological Center).

Alfiler’s master plan for the next three years is focused on sustaining his first term’s initiatives and pursuing priority projects for human resource development, personnel welfare and total quality management.