Government urged to invest in hospital ship

MANILA, Philippines - Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento urged the government yesterday to invest in a hospital ship with at least 100 beds to reach out to remote poor communities nationwide.

“We are a country of more than 7,000 islands, many of which have no hospitals to serve far-flung shoreline areas. Why not put up a medium-size hospital ship to reach out to poor Filipinos?” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento suggested that the government should include in its US-funded military acquisition list a floating hospital that will be run by the Philippine Navy, under the supervision of the Department of Health.

Aside from serving as a mobile hospital, it will also assist during times of disasters and other calamities, especially in island provinces.

Sarmiento saw the importance of having a highly mobile and easily deployable naval hospital when the USNS Mercy conducted medical missions in the Visayas and Mindanao last month.

The US Navy’s floating ship has 1,000 beds, including 80 in its intensive care unit. It has 12 operating rooms. 

The Mercy also participated in the annual Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) humanitarian and civic assistance mission at Subic Bay Freeport, which include the United States, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea, Chile, Peru, and the Netherlands.