Citing the “poor service” of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital in the City of San Fernando, a seething Senator Idol Raffy Tulfo urged the hospital management to fix their system and work hard for their patients.
Tulfo visited the 100-bed capacity Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital on July 1, 2023, Saturday, after receiving complaints about the hospital’s poor service and handling of patients.
Tulfo has described the OFW Hospital like a “ghost town” noting that there were only two patients when he visited — an employee of the hospital and another one from a faraway province. The senator was accompanied by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) USec. Hans Cacdac and Hospital Administrator Dr. Dante Dator.
The OFW Hospital was opened last May 1, 2022 and currently has 46 doctors and 72 nurses, respectively. It has a total of 200 personnel, including laboratory staff and admin staff.
“Kapansin-pansin din na tila ghost town ang gusali sa mga pasyente,” he said.
Tulfo also expressed dismay after finding out the hospital’s Outpatient Department is closed during Saturdays and Sundays. He was further angered upon learning from one of his staff who tried to get an appointment in the hospital’s online patient scheduling system that the next available slot for consultation is on October 10 or three months from now.
Tulfo urged the hospital’s officials to fix their online portal immediately, noting the Outpatient Department should be opened even on weekends to accommodate more patients needing care and attention.
The senator also said the Pharmacy Department surprised him because it has no shelves or drawers and the medicines were only placed on trays on the table. He added the supply of medicines are not complete, especially the important ones like antibiotics.
He also noticed the modern medical equipment of the facility are not even utilized because of the absence of patients.
He has vowed to provide all-out support, particularly in funding and staffing, for the welfare of OFWs and their dependents. He is currently Chairman of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers.
The senator said he will return in the coming days to do a surprise follow-up visit in the OFW Hospital.