• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II defended his concurrent appointment as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Provincial Health Office (PHO)-Hospital Operations Services, stressing that the position is focused on management rather than medical practice.
“This is not a doctor position,” Diaz said, noting that the previous head was neither a lawyer nor a doctor. “What we have here is management.”
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson designated Diaz as OIC of the PHO-Hospital Operations Services effective June 16.
Diaz emphasized that doctors should concentrate on patient care and medical matters while hospital administration requires expertise in financial, legal, and operational management.
“The management of hospitals does not necessarily need a doctor, who may not be aware of financial and legal matters. I think that is important in hospital management,” he stressed.
Diaz also clarified that hospital chiefs remain the top authorities in their respective facilities.
“The chief of hospital is still the boss of every hospital. My work is to facilitate everything they need in order to expedite, improve, and modernize all hospitals,” he added.
He also pledged to reduce the administrative burden on healthcare workers.
“My promise to our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers is that they should focus on their profession. I will continue the work of our doctors, nurses, and hospital staff by taking away tasks that are not within their line of work. Their time should now be focused on their patients so that more patients can be served,” he said.
Diaz outlined three priorities, including restoring the self-sufficiency of provincial hospitals, ensuring that healthcare providers and hospital employees are fairly compensated, and improving patient satisfaction and the quality of healthcare services.
Diaz said reforms will begin in emergency rooms, where gaps in service delivery are most apparent.
The provincial government is also strengthening its emergency response system through upgrades to 911 ambulance services, emergency medical technicians, and emergency medical responders in local government units.
Diaz also announced plans to increase the emergency room capacity of the provincial government’s flagship hospital, the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, from 25 to 30 beds, along with upgrades to laboratory and pharmacy services.
Moreover, Diaz addressed concerns regarding the appointment of Dr. Ayessa Hugnatan as provincial health officer (PHO) I, saying the issue has been misunderstood.
He explained that when former PHO II Dr. Girlie Pinongan retired, the PHO II position became vacant.
At the time Hugnatan and Dr. Von Aposaga were appointed, they both held PHO I positions.
“As of this time, we have no provincial health officer II,” Diaz said. | GPB
