(THE MANILA TIMES) Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has filed Senate Bill 2634 seeking the refurbishment of the fire-damaged Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
“As the largest government tertiary hospital in the country and the only national referral center for tertiary cases, we must ensure that PGH provides high-quality medical and health care services. The recent fire incidents that hit the hospital have made us realize the sorry state of PGH. Just like the thousands of our fellow citizens who rely on the services of PGH, most of whom are disadvantaged patients, PGH also needs the immediate attention of Congress and the government,” Estrada said.
Under Estrada’s bill, the workforce of the state-run hospital will be enhanced with new doctors and nurses, while its bed capacity will increase from 1,500 to 2,200.
The additional new positions must be determined in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, and the Civil Service Commission, he said. The senator added that the PGH has been operating beyond its capacity for years, serving over 600,000 patients annually.
“Investing in people’s health is important to provide ordinary Filipinos greater access to world-class and affordable tertiary hospital care,” he said.