The income of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is on the rise.
Dr. Dante Domingo, provincial health officer, said the income of the government hospital has been increasing every year since its operation was devolved to the provincial government.
In early 1992 when health services were devolved, NOPH was only earning an average of P3 million annually. Last year, the hospital income was placed at P94 million and it is projecting an annual income of P130 million out of laboratory services, X-ray operations and other health services this, Domingo said.
Domingo made the announcement in a press conference to support the plan of the provincial government to borrow P350 million to construct the Central Block Building which is expected to accommodate more than 400,000 poorest of the poor constituents of Negros Oriental.
“With the hospital income alone, the provincial government will be able to repay the loan. It is a good investment for the health of the people,” he explained.
The provincial government allocates 37 percent of its total budget for this year in health services, Domingo pointed out.
Envisioned in the P350 million-loan is the construction of an oxygen plant that will generate 100 tanks a day to be pumped directly to different wards and clinical sections of the hospital.
He said NOPH spends P450,000 a month in oxygen equivalent to P6 million more or less every year.
“When this oxygen plant is realized, the provincial hospital will have a lot of savings that can be used to pay the loan,” he explained.
“It is important that we implement the project to provide space and quality places for patients, the watchers and the public, as well as provide quality health services,” Domingo pointed out.
For his part, Gov. Roel Degamo reiterated an earlier statement that he will push for the construction of the Central Block Building.
According to the governor, the construction will start as soon as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will endorse to the governor’ office the resolutions that will authorize the governor to enter into a loan package with the bank and the resolution withdrawing such authority.
The P74-million European Community-funded Out Patient Department of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is expected to be completed in November this year and to be fully operational in January next year.
Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Dante Domingo clarified that the multimillion-peso project has five components.
These are the main building which has three floors, the two-storey building with private rooms, clinical areas, offices and ambulance bay, the renovation of the old OPD with several rooms, the powerhouse and the 5th component being the water cistern.
Dr. Domingo explained there is no point in comparing the OPD building of the NOPH with other buildings in the city. He issued the statement in the wake of comparisons made between that one of the provincial government and another hospital in the city.
He further stressed that being the center of wellness and a place of refuge for patients, the OPD at NOPH needs a strong structure.
The five components are inter-connected to each other, to include the administration building and the impending construction of the central block building.
Meanwhile, Dr. Domingo explained the water cistern collects the rainwater to be pumped back to the flushing system of the hospital, thereby, saving millions of pesos in expenses while the powerhouse is important in case of power outage. (PNA/LAP/jfp)
