Since   65 percent of public hospitals are overcrowded, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go underscored the need for more local hospitals to fully address the health concerns of residents, including the bed capacity of hospitals in the country.

At present, Go said the country has  88,394 beds or 67 percent of the target. In 2018, almost 65 percent of public hospitals were overcrowded.

Go has been vocal about the growing need of the country to improve its hospital facilities and augment their bed capacity.

Go said that he has personally seen the need to improve the country’s health facilities during his frequent visits to government hospitals.

He also cited data from the Department of Health (DOH) which further justifies the need to improve public hospitals.

“The country has a one-is-to-1,083 bed-to-population ratio. This is beyond the recommended ideal target ratio of one-is-to-1,000,” Go said.

He said  that the government needs additional 131,250 beds to reach its target.

“It is just timely that we discuss today measures that are aimed towards the improvement of our government hospitals,” Go said.

Known as an advocate of improved access to health care, Go has authored and supported measures in his first year as senator to accomplish this undertaking.

Local hospital bills sponsored by Go, Senate Committee on Health chairperson, were approved on second reading with only minor amendments.

The bills which hurdled second reading on the Senate floor include:

– House Bills (HB) 1477 or “An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Caraga Regional Hospital in Barangay Washington, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte from One Hundred Fifty (150) to Five Hundred (500) Beds, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”;

– HB 5871 or “An Act Upgrading the Maria L. Eleazar District Hospital in the Municipality of Tagkawayan, Province of Quezon into a Level III General Hospital to be known as the Maria L. Eleazar General Hospital Under the Direct Supervision and Control of the Department of Health, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”;

– HB 1799 or “An Act Upgrading the Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City, Province of Cebu, into a Medical Center to be known as the Cebu South Medical Center, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7799, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”; and

– Senate Bill (SB) No. 640 or “An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Bicol Medical Center from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Health Care Services, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Workforce Complement, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 8053, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”.

No senator registered to interpellate on the proposed measures./Stacy Ang