BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Representative Luisa Lloren Cuaresma here has filed a bill in Congress in a bid to upgrade the facilities and other resources of the Veterans Regional Hospital in this town.
Cuaresma said the bill, now being deliberated in Congress’ committee on health, will also rename the VRH into R II Trauma and Medical Center, a level III category medical center, the second highest category hospital in Cagayan Valley region after the Cagayan Valley Regional Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.
Once approved by the President, VRH will be transformed from 200 to 500 capacity bed medical center along the national highway in Barangay Magsaysay here.
“So far, there are no hitches during the deliberations and we hope that this will pass through the regular process and becomes a law this year, “ said Dr. Cirilo Galindez, VRH chief.
He said the upgrading of the VRH is timely considering that the number of patients being accommodated and treated at the hospital is increasing.
Galindez said the VRH caters to patients not only within Nueva Vizcaya but also from the neighboring provinces of Ifugao, Cordillera, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan.
He said that during the peak season, patients flock even along the corridors while under treatment and medication due to insufficient rooms.
“This upgrading move will address the growing number of patients coming for treatment in our hospital. We can also prevent the outbreak of diseases caused by overcrowding of patients,” Galindez said.
He also said that the bill will also address the low number of medical practitioners and health workers within the VRH.
“We still have close to 200 unfilled medical positions and we hope through this bill, we can encourage more applicants,” Galindez said.
He added that Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial also vowed assistance to the upgrading of the VRH.
Galindez said Ubial made the commitment during the inauguration and blessing of the newly-constructed P150-million Out-Patient Building in November last year.
The building, he said, was funded by the DoH.