Eastern Visayas’ regional hospital extension endorsed

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines — The Social Development Committee of the Regional Development Council-Region 8 had officially endorsed to the RDC-8 Full Council the proposed extension facility of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Villaba town of Leyte.

The SDC, headed by Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla of the Department of Science and Technology-8, issued the endorsement, via Resolutionn No. 8 series of 2017, during the committee’s 2nd quarter meeting last June 5.

The proposed EVRMC extension facility will be a one-storey, level-2 hospital with an estimated project cost of P600 million, to be constructed on a lot — donated by Representative Vicente Veloso (3rd district, Leyte) — at Barangay Cabungahan in Villaba.

A level-2 hospital can accommodate more patients and has a wider range of health services, compared to the three existing infirmary facilities.

Department of Health-8 Regional Director Minerva Molon said: “The ratio of hospital bed to population set by the World Health Organization is 1:1000. The extension of EVRMC in Villaba, Leyte is economically and financially viable, and is expected to bring significant benefits for the populace in the area.

The Tacloban City-based EVRMC’s extension hospital could provide access to low-cost medical services in the district — which is far from Tacloban — besides the three local government unit-managed hospital in the 3rd district of Leyte that have a combined total of 85 hospital beds only.

The proposed EVRMC extension will be included in the agenda of the RDC-8 Full Council meeting, which convened yesterday, for review and endorsement to the concerned agencies and institutions. (BANAT NEWS)