Pangasinan cited for hospital service upgrade

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has hailed the provincial government of Pangasinan for improving the services offered by local hospitals last year.

In a report released recently, state auditors took note of how the provincial government used the P23.7 million to increase the bed capacity of the local hospitals.

The money was also used to hire additional medical consultants instead of filling the 39 vacant positions for medical officer, which would have cost P26 million.

State auditors said local hospitals with a bed capacity of 645 were able to serve an average of 1,423 patients daily.

They said the hiring of 99 medical consultants on a contractual basis to augment the existing medical personnel in 14 hospitals, generated a savings of P2.3 million for the provincial government.