Strengthening Hospital Workforce in Cebu
In a bid to address staffing shortages and enhance the delivery of healthcare services across Cebu province, newly-elected Governor Pamela Baricuatro has launched an ambitious hiring initiative targeting 1,667 vacant positions across 16 Capitol-run hospitals.
The vacancies, which range from nurses and doctors to administrative aides, engineers, and sanitation inspectors, span multiple salary grades, from Salary Grade (SG) 1 (P13,807 monthly) to SG 26 (ranging from P116,040 to P127,876 monthly). A total of 1,513 positions are already funded, with an additional 154 slots pending budget allocation.
Dr. Mary Ann Josephine Arsenal, the Officer in Charge of the Cebu Provincial Health Office, emphasised the urgency of addressing the staffing shortage, expressing gratitude for Baricuatro's commitment to healthcare. Arsenal noted that health is now a priority for the new governor.
Baricuatro signed an executive order on her first full day in office, releasing a P5 million budget for emergency procurement for each of the 16 provincial hospitals. In addition, she has allocated an emergency budget of P80 million for the hospitals to address urgent needs such as medicines and medical supplies.
The allocation and specific number of hires for each hospital will be guided by a detailed staffing assessment conducted by the Department of Health Region 7 and the Cebu Provincial Health Office. Their recommendations will then be submitted to the governor’s office for final approval, with the goal of completing the hiring within Baricuatro’s first 100 days in office.
The hiring drive is part of Baricuatro's promise to strengthen the provincial healthcare system, a core promise of her landslide victory in the May elections. Baricuatro is seeking passionate and dedicated Cebuanos to join the medical workforce, aiming to significantly improve healthcare services in the province.
This comprehensive hiring and funding effort reflects Baricuatro's commitment to resolving staffing shortages and improving healthcare delivery across Cebu province. The P80 million will be distributed among the 12 district hospitals and four provincial hospitals located in Balamban, Carcar, Bogo, and Danao.
Understaffing, according to Arsenal, is a primary reason for public dissatisfaction with medical services in Capitol-run hospitals. The hiring initiative is expected to alleviate this issue, ensuring that patients receive the care they deserve.
In summary, Governor Baricuatro's hiring initiative aims to fill 1,667 vacant positions in 16 Capitol-run hospitals, addressing staffing shortages and improving healthcare services in the province. The initiative is part of Baricuatro's broader commitment to prioritising healthcare services, as promised during her campaign.
- Governor Pamela Baricuatro's hiring initiative, a part of her pledge to improve healthcare services, aims to fill 1,667 vacant positions in 16 Capitol-run hospitals across Cebu province.
- The health and wellness of the Cebuano people have been prioritized by newly-elected Governor Baricuatro, who launched an ambitious hiring drive to combat staffing shortages, particularly in medical-conditions-related fields.
- In her bid to enhance the delivery of healthcare services, Governor Baricuatro's initiative targets a wide range of positions, including nurses, doctors, administrative aides, engineers, and sanitation inspectors, all of which contribute to maintaining health standards across Cebu province.
