Beleaguered hospital chief may get 60-day suspension
Iloilo -- Dr. Noel Icamina, the beleaguered Chief of Hospital of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital based in Pototan, Iloilo, may be meted with a 60-day preventive suspension following the result of investigation conducted by the Fact Finding Committee created by Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. which validated almost all of the complaints of the 24 personnel from the said hospital.
This was revealed by Governor Tupas to the Capitol press in an interview Thursday morning.
The governor said, he already got hold of the copy of the report of the Fact Finding Committee and he has forwarded the same to the province's legal division for proper action.
The governor said the preventive suspension is without prejudice to the administrative case the Provincial Legal Office may file against Icamina.
The Fact Finding committee headed by Provincial Planning and Development Office Chief Mario Nillos confirmed the validity of eight out of twelve allegations hurled by the 24 medical officers and medical specialists of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital against Icamina's management.
The committee recommended further administrative investigation on the case.
The eight allegations which the committee found to be valid are: (1) the hospital has very limited stocks of medicines and most of the patients have to buy their medicines at drugstores fronting the hospital.
(2) There is a limited x-ray supplies forcing patients to purchase x-ray film outside the hospital.
(3) While the hospital performs 27 laboratory tests, certain special laboratory tests are not available. Furthermore, in many instances, the hospital does not cater to OPD patients.
(4) The Operating Room has incomplete supplies as affirmed by the doctors on duty.
(5) There is lack of nurses especially in the night shift. Re-assignment of certain personnel are inappropriate and does not conform to proper civil service procedures.
(6) The hospital's Pregio van has never been used as an alternate ambulance but rather used as a service vehicle of the Chief of Hospital (Icamina).
(7) The initial batch of PhilHealth cards that were given to the social worker supposedly to be distributed to indigent patients were taken by the Chief of Hospital for unknown reason.
(8) The new doctors quarter was found to be unsafe and unsecured since it is located along the passageway, cramped and could only occupy 4 beds. The place has no mobile phone signal.
In finding merit to most of the complaints' allegations the committee noted: "As an organization that attends to the most important basic human needs-that is preserving human lives through hospital services-it is but incumbent upon the head of the organization, the Chief of Hospital, that foremost, the needs of its human resources-both medical and administrative personnel-should be given preferential attention."
"The harmony and cooperation are important elements that would make that organization achieve its goals and vision which is (TO SAVE LIVES)."
To note, on February 6, 2006, 24 medical officers and medical specialists from the Iloilo Provincial Hospital brought to the attention of Governor Tupas, through a letter, twelve major concerns and problems regarding alleged poor management of Icamina resulting to poor delivery of hospital services.
In response to the said complaint, Tupas formed a Fact Finding Committee by virtue of Executive Order No. 051, Series of 2006, composed of Nillos as chairman, and Atty. Ethyl Demaisip of the Provincial Legal Office, Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado of the Provincial Health Office, Ms. Alma Ravena of the Human Resource Management and Development Office and Lyd Tupas of the Provincial Accounting Office as members.
Since the start of the investigation, Icamina volunteered to be temporarily transferred to the Provincial Capitol Clinic in order not to affect the conduct of investigation.
It was learned that Icamina is a personal doctor of Governor Tupas. In earlier interviews, Tupas vowed not to influence the investigation on Icamina.
The News Today failed to reach Icamina for a reaction on the findings of the Fact Finding committee at press time.