In a significant development for healthcare in the region, the Province of Cebu has announced that 15 out of its 16 hospitals are now offering 24-hour laboratory services. This enhancement follows the completion of requirements and adherence to regulations set by the Department of Health (DOH), marking a milestone in improving medical accessibility for residents.
Expanded Access to Laboratory Services
According to the Capitol's recent declaration, the majority of provincial hospitals have upgraded their operations to provide round-the-clock laboratory support. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure continuous and efficient patient care across Cebu. The move is expected to benefit a larger number of patients daily, as services will no longer be interrupted during off-hours.
Staffing Requirements and Compliance
To sustain the 24/7 rotation, specific staffing mandates have been implemented. Four provincial hospitals are required to have 19 medical technologists each, while island hospitals such as those in Bantayan and Camotes need nine medical technologists. District hospitals, on the other hand, must maintain a staff of five medical technologists. Currently, only the Daanbantayan District Hospital has not met these requirements, operating with just four medical technologists and thus limited to eight-hour daily services.
List of Hospitals with Enhanced Services
The government's records indicate that the following hospitals now have open laboratory services:
- Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City
- Balamban Provincial Hospital
- Carcar City Provincial Hospital
- Danao City Provincial Hospital
- District Hospitals including Isidro C. Kintanar (Argao), Badian, Bantayan, Barili, Mariano J Cuenco (Malabuyoc), Jose Ma. Borromeo (Pinamungajan), Juan B Dosado (Sogod), Ricardo L Maningo (Camotes), Minglanilla, Oslob, and Tuburan
Impact on Patient Care
Dr. Miguel Tristan Rebalde, a health data analyst and coordinator at the Provincial Health Office (PHO), emphasized the positive implications of this upgrade. He stated that this approach allows for more patients to be served efficiently each day. "This means that laboratory services in most hospitals will no longer be cut off, as there will be a medical technologist on duty every hour, day and night," Rebalde explained.
He further highlighted that this development represents a major assistance in providing swift and effective care for patients throughout Cebu. The Capitol is actively working to complete all necessary personnel arrangements to ensure full implementation across all services before the end of February.
