SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go yesterday called on the Department of Health to immediately investigate the alleged negligence of a government-run hospital in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, which reportedly led to an infant’s death.
Go said he received information that the medical staff of the Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital reportedly denied admission to a nine-month-old baby three times despite symptoms of being sick.
He said the death of the infant was “frustrating,” adding that no Filipino should suffer such a fate due to alleged failures in the healthcare system.
“As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I am calling on the DOH to immediately conduct an investigation. If there are hospital staff who need to be accountable, let it be. If there are shortcomings, we must fill them. If the medical frontliners need additional support, we must give them immediately,” he said.
The case of the infant’s death went viral after it was posted by the mother, Maricel Igang, on Facebook.
Igang said her baby had a fever, diarrhea, and vomiting last March 2. She brought the infant to the hospital on March 3, 4, and 5 but was repeatedly denied admission because the hospital staff did not consider the case critical.
Igang said she pleaded with the hospital to have her baby admitted on their third visit as the infant was already weak and unresponsive. However, she claimed that the hospital staff continued to downplay the severity of her baby’s condition.
Shortly after, Igang said her baby’s condition deteriorated. Despite efforts by medical staff members to intervene, the infant was eventually declared dead.
Go said that efforts have been ongoing to address the issues plaguing the public health system, but many Filipinos still struggle to access timely medical care.
“Despite this, government medical services seem elusive to our ordinary countrymen. That’s why we will not stop until we fix these issues,” he said.
Go encouraged the public to report concerns on the country’s healthcare system to his office so they could act on them.
“The Senate Health Committee is an avenue for ordinary citizens to air their concerns and be heard,” he added.
