Lingayen, Pangasinan—In achieving the provincial government’s thrust to deliver the best health care services for more than 3.1 million Pangasinenses, the improvement of all health facilities, the acquisition of new state-of-the-art medical and laboratory equipment, and the hiring of more medical personnel were directed by Governor Ramon V. Guico III.
Thus, on August 5, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved a resolution endorsing to the Department of Health (DOH) the application for a Permit to Construct (PTC) a three-storey building for Level II Hospital with a 100-bed capacity at the Lingayen District Hospital (LDH).
Dr. Aurelio Carino, during the regular session, said the bed capacity for LDH is 40, but the recorded number of patients per day is about 100 to 110. Hence, the need to increase the facility’s bed capacity is needed to accommodate more patients and cater to the medical needs of the sick and less-privileged Pangasinenses.
“The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the LDH, intends to construct a 3-storey building for Level II Hospital with a 100-bed capacity to provide the people with a sufficient and higher level of medical and health services,” the resolution, which SP Member Dr. Shiela Marie F. Baniqued stated.
LDH is one of the 14 hospitals operated by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan which caters to patients from the different municipalities and nearby localities of the 2nd District of Pangasinan. Aside from leveling up, a hemodialysis center is being built in the hospital.
Earlier, Dr. Racquel S. Ogoy, Medical Officer III, Provincial Hospital Management Services Office, said the provincial government intends to put up hemodialysis centers in all district and community hospitals in the province.
The provincial government likewise continues to allocate funds for the construction, repair, rehabilitation, and maintenance of hospital buildings.
It can be recalled that in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) in 2023, the governor cited that all 14 hospitals run by the province increased their authorized bed capacity, bringing the total outpatients and inpatients served last year to 468,122 and 111,631, respectively.
Aside from the improvement of facilities, another worth mentioning was the successful implementation of the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) from 2022 to March 2024, wherein a total of P383,816,375.51 in funds were transferred to Pangasinan during that period.
Gov. Guico is set to enter and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DOH-Center for Health Development-1 for the implementation of the MAIFIP program in all 14 government hospitals.
With Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in Bolingit, San Carlos City, receiving the biggest bulk of more than P7.6 million, all 13 hospitals will get a share of P2 million each.
(Ruby F. Rayat | Photo by Omar Cruz)
