CCMC’s procurement questioned

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has questioned the procurement process of the medicines and supplies of Cebu City Medical Center and its satellite hospital in Barangay Guba because of its “very poor service.”

Councilor Ma. Nida Cabrera said she received se-veral complaints from different barangays against CCMC and its satellite emergency hospital. Cabrera said that it is a common complaint that the hospital lacks the needed me-dicines and supplies for the patients.

“CCMC, being a government owned hospital, is mandated to provide holistic, high quality and cost-effective health services to the residents of Cebu City. It caters to indigent patients, so it is relying on a subsidy from the city government,” Cabrera said in a privilege speech.

She said that the City Council has approved P302.8 million budget for CCMC this year, which includes the P39.7 million for drug and medicine expenses. However, she contended that despite the “formidable” amount that the Council has appropriated, different offices of city councilors receive reports that the hospital lacks medicines, supplies, and gives poor service to its patients.

“Where is now the hospital’s mission of providing an environment promoting ethical, high quality and cost effective services to Cebu City residents? What happened to its approved 2014 budget, specifically the appropriated amount for drugs and medicine?” she asked.

Cabrera said that during the budget hearing for CCMC last November 24, the Council found out that CCMC has remaining balance of P12.5 million for drugs and medicines.

“Why is it CCMC failed to fully implement its purchase when the year almost ends and the patients are constantly complaining for lack  of  medicines  and  clamoring for its availability,” she said.

She said that the P2.7 million for drugs and medicines expense in Barangay Guba Hospital was not also utilized. Cabrera said that CCMC chief of hospital, Dr. Gloria Duterte, defended the issue saying that not all purchased items were delivered because of the “constant delay of the bidding process conducted by the Bids and Awards Committee.

With this, the City Council wants Duterte, BAC chairman, Officer-in-charge of Barangay Guba Hospital, and procurement officer of CCMC to appear in an executive session to clear the issues.

City Councilor Margarita Osmeña has reminded the City Council that Duterte has snubbed the invitation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod during an executive session scheduled last November 28 and December 1.

Osmeña said that Duterte has sent letters to the members of the Council claiming that her presence is no longer necessary because she has already solved the matter.

“What we want to find out is that how they solved the problem. We really not into this. It was Dr. Duterte who raised the issue that the reason behind her not being able to utilize the budget for the medicines and supplies was because of the procurement process,” Osmeña said.

“It seems to be a perennial problem that CCMC is not able to utilize the budgeted amount for the purchase of medicines and supplies. The answer is always the same because of the procurement process,” she added.— (FREEMAN)