A measure that seeks to improve the services and facilities of the Don Emilio Del Valle Memorial Hospital (DEDVMH) in Ubay has gained committee-level approval made by a House of Representatives panel.
The lower house’s committee on health led by Quezon City 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan approved House Bill 4624, which pushes for the mulled hospital development, at Batasang Pambansa on Monday.
The bill, authored by Bohol 2nd District Rep. Aris Aumentado, seeks to expand the said hospital to a 300-bed facility from its current capacity of 50 patients.
It also pushes for an increase in the hospital’s budget and number of personnel and equipment.
In his speech before the committee, Aumentado impressed on its members the hospital’s progress throughout the years including facility improvements.
The DEDVMH was among the first Bohol hospitals to be certified as an ISO (International Standards Organization)-accredited institution.
According to Aumentado, the hospital not only caters to the town of Ubay but also to the entire Central Visayas.
Despite its minimal capacity, the DEDVMH received an average of 175 patients a day last year and the figure has recently increased to 222 per day, said Aumentado.
Last year, the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) held a groundbreaking for its five-story health facility inside the DEDVMH’s compound.
A P47-million budget was allotted for the construction of the said PhilHealth ward. (RT)