Aside from the Department of Health management team set to take over the running of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, another team will also be sent to assess the operations of the hospital, DOH Undersecretary Margarita Galon said yesterday.

She told the DAILY STAR that the management team tentatively set to arrive at the CLMMRH at the end of this week is scheduled for now to stay for a month and a half.

It is tasked with institutionalizing reforms at the hospital while the investigation on three top CLMMRH officials, who are being transferred to the DOH in Cebu, is underway.

Set for transfer are Dr. Domingo Vega, CLMMRH chief, Dr. Benito Bionat, CLMMRH chief of clinics, and Bryan Baylon, CLMMRH chief administrative officer. They are facing recommended charges for alleged violation of procurement procedures at the hospital. Health Secretary Francisco Duque told the DAILY STAR Monday that Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH Region 10 assistant regional director, will take the place of Vega as chief of hospital, Dr. Epifania Simbul of the National Children's Hospital in Quezon City will take over from Bionat as chief of clinics, and Carlito Pilirin of the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum will be the acting administrator.

Dr. Aileen Javier of the National Kidney Transplant Institute will be the adviser to the new management group, he added.

The entire management team will all be under the direct supervision of Galon and Assistant Secretary David Lozada, Duque said.

Meanwhile, Galon said an assessment team will also be sent to the CLMMRH to pinpoint problematic areas in various departments of the hospital so that corrective measures can be fast-tracked by the management team.*CPG

back to top