Good news for Negrenses.
The increase in bed capacity, upgrading facilities and services of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental, may soon be a reality.
This was after the House Committee on Health approved on Nov. 25 House Bill 4763 increasing the bed capacity of the TLJPH from 100 to 300 beds.
HB 4763, authored by Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), also included the upgrading of TLJPH facilities and services, increasing the number of its medical personnel and appropriations of the much-needed funds.
The increase in bed capacity of TLJPH from 100 to 300 will be implemented for a period of not more than three years, with its funding to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Benitez said in his explanatory note to HB 473 that while TLJPH authorized bed capacity is only 100, its present bed occupancy rate in 2018 was 300 percent higher than its capacity.
With 22,014 the number of patients admitted at TLJPH in the same year, it averages 60 patients being confined every day, and staying at least five days on average, he said.
To prevent the unnecessary loss of life, TLJPH urgently needs an augmentation in its facilities and personnel to meet the high demand of health care in Negros Occidental, Benitez also said.
Increasing its authorized bed capacity, upgrading its facilities and hiring additional personnel will greatly help TLJPJ to adequately address the health care of Negrenses, enabling them to fulfill their full productive potential, he stressed.*GPB
