Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday called the attention of the heads of the provincial government-run district hospitals in Kabankalan, Silay and Cadiz cities on the need to be prepared to meet the annual onslaught of dengue cases.

What is the use of our renovating all these hospitals if they cannot attend to the needs of the patients from their areas? he asked.

He said the district hospital heads should inform him of their needs so that funds can be provided to enable them to be prepared for dengue cases.

Marañon aired his displeasure over reports he had received that district hospitals were sending dengue patients to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City, instead of attending to them in their areas, at a meeting with the hospital heads yesterday. Sipalay Vice Mayor Oscar Montilla had also informed him that patients from the southern city had to be brought to the CLMMRH, Marañon said.

The district hospital heads explained that dengue patients sent on to Bacolod were those who need immediate platelet transfusion which is not available in their areas.

There are only two blood blanks in the whole of Negros - one at the CLMMRH to serve the south and the Philippines National Red cross for the north, Dr. Romulo Rhoel Mogul, provincial government Hospital Operations Division Chief, said.

Platelet transfusion machines that separate platelets from whole blood are only available in Bacolod, he said, and under the law this can only be done in government-identified blood banks.

The district hospital heads said they were not sending all dengue patients to Bacolod, only those with very low platelet counts who need transfusion.

Marañon asked the doctors to explore remedies so patients can be treated at the district hospitals.

He also stressed that no patient who goes to district hospitals should be denied treatment.*CPG

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