Dr. Po defends GCGMH over alleged lousy job

THERE'S more than meets the eye in the “success” of the biggest cataract mission here. From the looks of it, the press releases coming from the medical mission coordinators maybe a move to kiss and make up, but Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) chief has other things in mind.

At the expense of a government hospital reputation, coordinators' press release stated more than a thousand patients benefiting the cataract surgeries. Apparently red as a beet and couldn't sleep over last week's bannered headline (not by the Post) that said “ Manila docs irked on lousy service,” Dr. Nenita Po defended her embattled hospital doctors and went ballistic over the allegations.

The report said top-notch physicians working under Malacañang Medical Mission got irked on the lousy service at the GCGMH, the venue of the cataract operations. By lousy service, the visiting doctors mean “cold attitude” shown by hospital physicians to them.

Debunking the issues raised by the news item, Dr. Po, GCGMH chief said they were told Gallares was just a venue for the medical mission and nothing more. She added that that the medical team did not even come for a courtesy call. Hoping to be fully appraised of its role in the mission, Dr. Po shared that Mrs. Francisca Baluyot told them to be at a luncheon briefing at the Bohol Tropics...but not a briefing happened.

Dr. Po further explaining why the visiting doctors did not see much of the Gallares doctors, she said the local doctors were also busy with their duties. The chief of hospital's rebuttals, contained in a full-page advertisement sent to the Post, said GCGMH only gives services to patients, not doctors. Even without the formal commitment for the mission, the hospital still acceded to the mission request for medicines, anesthetics and supplies, a bigger venue for the cataract operations and operating room nurses, Po said.

The incident was never reported to the Department of Health, contrary to what was earlier reported, disclosed Dr. Po, who personally checked with the government agency. As to the published irritation of the governor over the incident, she said she'd rather not believe that because, to her, the governor was bot a blasting type. Capping all the allegations, Po suggested that persons involved should be consulted if not verified so the readers get the accurate information. In here, fairness, justice are also given significant value for peace and unity for all Boholanos.

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