Level 2 accreditation for CCMC underway

CEBU, Philippines - The management of the Cebu City Medical Center admits that unless it fully addresses the hospital’s infrastructure concerns, the hospital’s status based on the Department of Health would remain in level 1. 

However, the hospital assured that it has been doing its best to complete all the necessary requirements to achieve a level 2 status from DOH and in fact targets to get the accreditation by July this year.

“We are currently moving a lot of things. Kun inyong makita, naay nagbuhat diri, naa pud nagbuhat didto, those are for compliance. We are in the period of compliance,” said CCMC Hospital Administrator Rey Cris Panugaling in a press conference yesterday.

In July 2014, DOH downgraded the status of CCMC after the hospital secured a license to operate and permit to construct a new hospital. The old CCMC hospital had to be taken down after it was damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Central Visayas, including Cebu City, in October 2013.  

As of now, CCMC is temporarily occupying the building of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the former office of Cebu City Transportation Office for its operation while the construction of the new hospital is underway.

Panugaling said the application for level 2 status is still with DOH.

“Kay ang hospital leveling, when you say permit to construct, you cannot do the advancement of the facility kun wala kay accreditation. With the present scenario that we have, we have to be very transparent and open and very practical. Kanang present location that we have right now, remember, ang CITOM (office) to CCMC. Diba? From non-hospital set up to a hospital set up,” he said.

He added that CCMC cannot get an automatic license or the permit to construct because of their current situation.

He said DOH has sent them the list of requirements which could help them secure the level 2 accreditation, which includes the improvement of the surgical service and the operating room.

“Actually, we are performing everything. If level 1, minor surgeries. But, ang hospital man gud is service capability, personnel, infrastructure and equipment. Mao na ang upat ka requirements. Ang atong problema ra gyud is infrastructure. With service capability, we can,” he said.

“Naa man ta tanan. Naa man tay consultants. Pero, ang level 2 man gud, mas daghan pa ta og serbisyo nga mahatag. It will not limit us. In level 2 man gud, we can do major operations nga very expressly stated. Pero dinha man gud, gi-perform man gihapon,” he added.

Also, Panugaling said, CCMC is currently applying for Level 3 accreditation for the 10-storey building of the new hospital.

After the hospital’s construction, he said they will secure the license to operate.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama already ordered C.E. Padilla Construction, Inc., contractor of the hospital, to finish the building by December 2016, which is four months ahead of the facility’s targeted completion date, which is April 2017. — (FREEMAN)