The Senate passed on third and final reading two bills which would increase the bed capacity of two hospitals in Quezon City and San Fernando, Pampanga.
Sponsored by Senate committee on health and demography chairperson Pia Cayetano, House bill 5622 has been approved to increase the bed capacity of the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City from 350 beds to 500 beds.
Also sponsored by Cayetano, Senate Bill No. 2853 has also been passed seeking to increase the bed capacity of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga from 250 beds to 500 beds.
"This is to improve the delivery of basic health services in the areas," Cayetano said.
House Bill No. 5622 and Senate Bill 2853 were approved with 19 affirmative votes, 0 negative vote and 0 abstention with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senators Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Pia Cayetano, Miriam-Defensor Santiago, Franklin Drilon, Chiz Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan III, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Kiko Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla, Jr. Antonio Trillanes IV and Manuel Villar voting for the approval of the measures.
Despite its limited subsidy and insufficient bed capacity, Cayetano said the QCMC continues to provide health care services not only to residents of Quezon City but also to patients from nearby areas like Marikina, Antipolo, San Mateo, Montalban, Caloocan, Novaliches, Laguna, Bulacan and Cavite.
She said the hospital's 2010 annual Statistics Report showed that there was an average of 2.7 patients occupying a single bed, far beyond the hospital's limits.
Cayetano said increasing the bed capacity of both hospitals will not entail additional funding since the creation of additional beds will be covered by the existing budget of the DOH.
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