DMW vows to improve OFW hospital in Pampanga

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said it will strive to improve the facilities and staffing of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital in Pampanga after it was criticized by Senator Raffy Tulfo for having poor service.

The DMW made the statement after Tulfo's surprise visit to the OFW hospital.

“This is the first time makapunta ako sa isang ospital na walang katao tao… Nasan ang mga pasyente?” Tulfo asked upon finding out there were only two patients admitted at the hospital.

(This is the first time I went to a hospital where there are no people... Where are the patients?)

"It is not being used to its full potential. Sayang. Sayang ‘to [this is a pity]. I feel sorry for this hospital," he added.

There are around 200 staff members in the hospital, consisting of 46 doctors, 72 nurses, and other staff, according to Jonathan Andal’s 24 Oras report on Wednesday.

Tulfo said there is a lack of patients at the OFW Hospital as its outpatient department is closed on weekends and is only accepting 10 walk-in patients per day.

Others even have to book an online appointment on the hospital’s website for a medical consultation.

DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that he is now coordinating with Tulfo’s office regarding his concerns. He said the DMW is also coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to address the staffing issue.

“Nakikiisa tayo kay Sen. Raffy na lalo pang ipa-improve ‘yung facilities. Maayos, malinis ‘yung facilities pero ayun nga, kailangan pa nating bigyan ng pansin ‘yung pagdadagdag ng tao doon sa ospital, kasi ang number of nurses and doctors are kulang pa rin,” Cacdac said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(We stand in solidarity with Sen. Raffy to further improve the facilities of the OFW Hospital. The facilities are fine and clean, but we still need to pay attention to adding more people to the hospital, because the number of nurses and doctors are still insufficient.)

The OFW Hospital’s outpatient services will also now be made available on Saturdays, he added.

Cacdac noted that the hospital has assisted a total of 13,625 patients so far this year.

The OFW Hospital was launched in May 2022 to cater primarily to the healthcare needs of OFWs and qualified dependents. —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News