Hospital chief violated policy on use of ambulance: official
The suspended chief of the Minglanilla District Hospital allegedly violated a policy of the Department of Health (DOH) on the use of ambulances for emer- gency situations.
Dr. Rene Catan, provincial health officer, disclosed the matter before the Provincial Board (PB) during their regular session yesterday.
Catan was invited by the PB to attend their regular session to aid their investigation on the alleged refusal of MDH’s personnel to bring an alleged hit-and-run victim to the hospital, which resulted in his death.
Dr. Bella Villaganas, MDH’s suspended chief, is being investigated by the Capitol’s committee on discipline and investigation (Codi).
During the session yesterday, Catan said that Villaganas violated DOH Administrative Order 2010-0003, which was signed by former Health Secretary Francisco Duque last Jan. 7, 2010.
Based on the order, an ambulance can be used in transporting patients from the incident site to the emergency room of the receiving hospital.
It can also be used to transfer patients to another hospital for further diagnostic and treatment purposes and, as a special health service for emergency medical care and life support to sustain the stability of the patient in transit to and from the hospital.
But Villaganas reportedly issued a memorandum two days before the incident that ambulances in their hospital can only be used if there are official business at the Capitol, to acquire equipment and medicines and if a patient will be brought to another hospital for diagnostic or laboratory exams.
Villaganas reportedly issued the memo without coordinating with the PHO, Catan said.
Aside from Villaganas, also suspended is Dave Zomiel Arellano, who was identified by a certain Marvey Bastida Caño to have refused the use of the ambulance when the victim was brought in.
Catan said the victim’s body is still unclaimed at a funeral parlor in town./
A Department of Health order on the use of ambulances says an ambulance can be used in transporting patients from the incident site to the emergency room of the receiving hospital.