BAMBANG—Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla has allotted P1.8 million worth of medicine in P50,000 monthly petty cash spread over a period of three years for patients complaining of lack of medicine in the provincial government-owned hospital here.
With the allotment, Padilla assured poor patients of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital that medicines will always be available.
He said the provincial government needs to immediately address the reported shortage of medicines or delayed replenishment of used stocks “due perhaps to lengthy procedures in the procurement of hospital supplies.”
The governor, however, clarified that these cheaper medicines are not free.
Padilla said the availability of cheaper medicine at the NVPH will be ensured through the allocation of at least P50,000 monthly petty cash with P15,000 amount as capping on purchases.
“This petty cash will be used to continuously buy generic medicines for the NVPH pharmacy so that every patient can get it anytime of the day without leaving their sick relatives in the hospital premises,” Padilla said.
Private doctors availing of the facilities of the government hospital reportedly prescribe expensive medicines that have to be bought outside the hospital.
In a recent meeting with the governor, NVPH officials and workers also discussed issues and concerns such as delayed payment of salaries of casual and contractual employees, extension of appointments of contractual employees from three to six months, and improvement of the procurement system, among others.