Senate committee backs 800 bed capacity of BGHMC

February 17, 2018 Metro BLISTT

In an omnibus motion, the Senate Committee on Health chaired by Senator JV Ejercito, approved House Bill 6619 increasing the bed capacity of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) and other related bills.
Baguio City Representative Mark Go authored the said measure which increases BGHMC’s bed capacity from 500 to 800 as well as upgrading its existing service facilities and professional health care services.
According to the solon, BGHMC currently caters 80% indigent patients including PhilHealth funded patients. The hospital’s annual statistics report reveals that every year, the hospital exceeds its bed occupancy due to its volume of admission. In 2015 alone, its bed occupancy rate has reached 133.92% with a total admission of 37, 022. In the following year, it exceeded 144.17% of its normal occupancy rate admitting a total of 37,577 patients. For the year 2017, its bed capacity rate has reached to 146%.
Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago, Jr. of the Department of Health expressed their support for the said measure which is already included in the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan of the agency for the fiscal years 2017-2022. Santiago also stated that the current ratio of bed capacity is 1:1000 compared to the 1:800 standard ratio in the Philippines.
Senator JV Ejercito pointed out that the measures increasing the bed capacity of hospitals are really needed since he witnessed himself the situation of the hospitals.
“The passage of this measure will greatly affect our people in availing the needed quality and effective delivery of health services considering that BGHMC is a premiere, referral center in the north of Manila and affiliated in all service specializations,” Go said.
It can be recalled that the lower house has approved the measure on third and final reading last January 29, 2017. ABN