Benguet caretaker Rep. Eric Go Yap said the Department of Health has committed to fast-track the processing of the license to operate of the Benguet molecular laboratory.
“Hopefully target natin ay by February. Nangako naman sila na pabibilisan na, lalo pa’t meron na tayong case ng UK variant sa La Trinidad,” Yap said.
Yap has to keep on checking with DOH on the status of the application of Benguet General Hospital to operate the provincial molecular laboratory that would help the government’s testing capability.
At present, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center conducts Covid-19 tests for patients all over northern Luzon.
“In fact, sinabi ko sa kanila, itong laboratory na ito, kahit tayo ang nag-donate nito, lahat ng swab samples from north Luzon pwedeng dalhin sa atin para ma-decongest natin ang BGH,” he said.
Gov. Melchor Diclas said the staff of the Benguet molecular laboratory constructed within the BeGH compound has conducted a dry run to ensure the smooth implementation of the laboratory.
Diclas said he has signed the necessary purchase orders for the additional machines for the laboratory, which needed time to be prepared and properly evaluated by the DOH.
Meanwhile, Yap said the bill seeking for the renationalization of the BeGH and increasing its bed capacity from 200 to 400 is on second reading at the Senate’s committee on health and demography.
If approved into law, the DOH will be mandated to provide more funds for the hospital for increasing its bed capacity as well as increasing the salary of personnel and other health workers. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 20, 2024
