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MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial revealed on Tuesday, September 6, that the government will no longer engage in public-private partnership (PPP) in the renovation and upgrade of public hospitals.
“All upgrading and renovating of DOH hospitals and other government, local government unit hospitals will be funded by the [Department of Health] through the [General Appropriations Act],” Ubial said during the Department of Health’s budget hearing at the House of Representatives.
Ubial was answering questions from Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago, who asked for updates on the transfer of the Fabella Hospital.
The DOH plans to transform the hospital for poor birthing mothers into a center for women’s health and move it to the health department’s compound.
Different institutions – the Manila City Hall, Department of Public Works and Highways, and a private engineering company called ESCA – have found that 4 out of Fabella’s 8 buildings are structurally unsound.
The construction of the new facility – a 6-floor, 800-bed capacity Level 3 hospital – at the DOH compound is expected to be finished by May 2017.
On Tuesday, Ubial said the ongoing construction of the hospital, which costs P1.5 billion, is funded through the GAA, and not through PPP.
Former Health Secretary Janette Garin had ordered the termination of a PPP proposal for the Fabella Hospital when she assumed office.
Ubial, meanwhile, reviewed the hospital’s transfer as soon as she took over the health department.
DOH’s proposed 2017 budget of P144 billion includes a P400-million budget for the equipment of the new Fabella Hospital. – Rappler.com
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