Misamisnons demand improve healthcare services, hospital management at MHARSMC

 

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental—The people of Misamis Occidental have spoken out after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan shed light on the hospital management and healthcare services at Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARSMC). Resolution No. 588-24 has been passed, urging the Department of Health (DOH) to investigate the management of the hospital. This call to action comes after the outpouring of sentiments from the community, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issues at MHARSMC.

Patients and their families report long delays in admission and discharge, often waiting hours or even days beyond expectations. This has fueled perceptions of unresponsiveness from hospital management.

One resident shared their frustrations: "Dapat gyud na tagaan og pagtagad sa atong mga namunoan dinhe sa Ozamiz ug probinsya. Maayo kaayo ang programa sa Asenso apan kining mga way ayo og batasan nga dili kamao mohatag og bili sa mga nagdaot angay gyud na sila tangtangon."

A particularly tragic incident underscored the gravity of the situation—a patient in urgent need of oxygen faced severe delays and errors, ultimately resulting in their death. "Sa case sa ako mama, naglisod siya og ginhawa, need oxygen pero dugay kaayo niabot, pag-abot sayop pa jud gidala kay walay sulod. Namatay nalang ang akong mama," recounted one distraught family member.

Further complicating matters, some patients have transferred from MHARSMC to private hospitals out of fear after being told they might die if they didn’t leave. These patients later found that the same doctors who treated them at MHARSMC were attending to them in the private hospitals, forcing them to bear the cost of private care.

Another troubling issue is the neglect of patients, who are often left in common areas or hallways, enduring long waits before being moved to a room or ward. A particularly concerning case involved a baby with dengue, transferred from the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital (MOPH) to MHARSMC. Despite stable vital signs during the transfer, the baby's condition worsened, and the child tragically passed away the next morning. An affidavit from Dr. Lorenil N. Dybongco-Garcia, Medical Officer III at MOPH, highlighted serious deficiencies in MHARSMC’s care, suggesting that proper management might have prevented the death.

The community is demanding immediate improvements in service standards and greater respect from hospital staff. Many residents are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of hospital procedures, including the removal of ineffective leadership and staff and the hiring of more empathetic and efficient personnel.

While the city's and province’s health programs are valued, there is an urgent need for MHARSMC to address these service deficiencies. Residents are urging immediate leadership changes to enhance the quality of healthcare and prevent future distressing experiences. The SP resolution underscores the need for the DOH to investigate MHARSMC, as it is a DOH-owned hospital, to ensure that quality medical services are delivered to the public.