Capitol eyes specialists, nurses next as mass hiring of health workers continues

Local

SPECIALISTS and nurses are up next as the Cebu Provincial Government continues its aggressive mass hiring of healthcare workers.

This is part of a sweeping effort to overhaul services in Capitol-managed hospitals across the province.

The initiative formally took off on August 6 with the deployment of the first batch of newly hired general practitioners, who were presented during the 456th Founding Anniversary celebration of the provincial government.

The 12 doctors paid a courtesy call on Governor Pamela Baricuatro before reporting for duty in various district and provincial hospitals in Danao City, Carcar City, Argao, Barili, Minglanilla, Tuburan, Daanbantayan, and Sogod.

Dr. Nikki Catalan, provincial health consultant, said the doctors’ assignments were determined based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) assessment of which hospitals were most in need of immediate reinforcement.

“The 12 newly hired doctors present at the Capitol today represent the first round of doctors answering the call to serve in our provincial hospitals,” said Catalan.

“These new doctors will significantly augment healthcare delivery and ensure patients receive timely and quality care," she added.

She added that this is only the beginning of the Capitol’s multi-phase deployment strategy.

“The start of our initiative to reform healthcare in Cebu province,” Catalan said, adding that the next batch of hires will include medical specialists and nurses to further strengthen hospital operations.

The Capitol is undertaking one of its largest hiring drives in years to address longstanding staffing gaps and upgrade services in all 16 provincial and district hospitals under its jurisdiction.

A total of 1,667 vacant positions have been identified, ranging from physicians and nurses to pharmacists, midwives, radiologists, laboratory technicians, sanitation inspectors, and hospital support personnel.

Of these, 1,513 positions already have allocated funding, while 154 remain unfunded.

The numbers, however, are subject to adjustment as the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and DOH Central Visayas continue to review hospital staffing needs and refine the final manpower requirement per facility.

The lack of adequate hospital personnel has long been cited as one of the key factors behind poor service delivery in Cebu’s public health system.

Dr. Mary Ann Josephine Arsenal, officer-in-charge of the PHO, earlier noted that hospital performance is inevitably affected by staff shortages.

“Ang lack of personnel, mo-reflect man sad gud na sa ato nga output,” Arsenal said, pointing to the strain that under-resourced teams face in responding to patient needs and emergencies.

To support the hiring program and improve overall operations, Governor Baricuatro earlier approved the release of over P180 million.

The funding is being used to fill vacant posts and equip hospitals with necessary personnel, particularly those located in remote and underserved parts of the province.

The mass hiring is also in line with Baricuatro’s 100-day priority agenda, with Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces confirming that the governor had directed all involved Capitol departments to move with urgency.

“The governor’s marching order is, ‘Get it done,’” Empaces said, adding that the target is to complete the bulk of the recruitment process within the first three months of Baricuatro’s administration, which began on June 30.

Last July 19, it was reported, at least 78 doctors had already been hired under the program, which attracted more than 1,800 applicants for various healthcare positions.(MyTVCebu)