The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Friday issued a resolution allowing the provincial government to build pharmacies in province-run hospitals.

According to Board Member Jade Bautista who sponsored the resolution, the plan was designed to no longer require patients to travel to Tagbilaran City to purchase or acquire medicine.

The initiative was also intended to upgrade district hospitals’ status to Level 1 from being under the Infirmary Level as pharmacies are a requisite in the promotion of status, she said.

The SP’s move was prompted by the provincial government’s plan to establish pharmacies across 10 district hospitals in Bohol through its modernization program of medical institutions.

District hospitals in Bohol are as follows: Catigbian District Hospital, Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital in Talibon, President Carlos P. Garcia Municipal Hospital, Congressman Natalio Castillo Sr. Memorial Hospital in Loon, Teodoro Galagar District Hospital in Jagna, Francisco Dagohoy Municipal Hospital in Inabanga, Clarin Community Hospital, Congressman Simeon Toribio Memorial Hospital in Carmen, Candijay District Hospital and Maribojoc Community Hospital. (Rey Tutas)