By Beverly Paoyon/PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The provincial government of Sarangani has allocated around PHP15 million for the purchase of additional equipment this year for the provincial hospital in Alabel town.
Dr. Arvin Alejandro, chief of the Sarangani provincial health office, said Monday they have started the preparatory processes for the acquisition of new equipment for the hospital, which opened on Aug. 29 last year.
“It is intended for the purchase of equipment required of a Level 1 facility,” he said in an interview.
He said the hospital, which is located inside the provincial capitol compound, is currently operating as a 24-hour “forward triage” facility.
The official explained that the hospital mainly provides “initial management” for patients and then refers them to accredited referral hospitals here.
As set by the Department of Health (DOH), a Level 1 hospital is required to have a ward, operating room with standard equipment, post-operative recovery room, maternity facilities, isolation facilities, a dental section or clinic, blood station, a licensed secondary clinical laboratory, imaging facility, and a licensed pharmacy.
The provincial hospital, which is temporarily known as the Sarangani Health Care Facility, has an operational outpatient department, laboratory, and pharmacy.
Alejandro said the construction of its operating room, which is funded by a grant from the DOH, is ongoing and is due for completion by June.
The hospital is not yet accepting admissions as it is still processing its fire safety certificate, which is a prerequisite for the issuance of an occupancy permit, he said.
After securing the required permits, he said they will process the hospital’s license and accreditation as an infirmary facility.
“Once we acquire the equipment for the operating room, we can proceed with the operationalization of the provincial hospital as a Level 1 facility,” Alejandro said.
The provincial government started the construction of the hospital in 2011 through various grants under the DOH’s Hospital Facilities Enhancement Program.
The DOH has already released around PHP170 for the project while the local government contributed PHP15 million as counterpart.
Alejandro said the provincial government allotted around PHP34 million for the operations of the hospital this year
He said the amount comprises PHP13 million for personal services, PHP6 million for the maintenance and other operating expenses, and PHP15 million for capital outlay.
Citing its development plan, the official said the provincial hospital is projected to eventually become a Level 2 or 3 facility.
He said it will be the final loop of the five other hospitals run by the provincial government in the municipalities of Maitum, Kiamba, Maasim, Malungon, and Glan.
“As the core referral facility, it will provide other services that cannot be provided by our five municipal hospitals,” Alejandro added.
