By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan proposed amendments to an existing ordinance on the consignment of drugs and medicines in government-run provincial and district hospitals here.
The consignment system is a “method of assuring availability of stocks wherein a consignor places its goods with the Provincial Health Office and/or the pharmacies of the provincial and/or district hospitals for sale, and the former being paid by the latter for only the actual quantity consumed using the money generated from the sale of the consigned goods within the agreed period of time.”
Under the proposed amendment, Dr. Roger Braceros, the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital officer-in-charge, explained that any consignment deals with accredited suppliers shall no longer pass through the Bids and Awards Committee as there is no “cash out” involved.
From the original 30 days needed to settle the consignment of drugs and medicines, Dr. Braceros reported this will be extended to 60 days to give more time for PhilHealth to settle the obligation.
“There are so many processes in the Bids and Awards Committee. So, to speed up the process, we have proposed these amendments,” he said.
Once approved, Dr. Braceros hopes this will solve problems being encountered at the hospital and ensure enough supply of medicine. This will also be beneficial to “no balance billing patients” as they no longer need to pay in cash upon receipt of the medicines inside the hospital.
This year, the Provincial Health Office has a total budget of PHP380 million. A bulk of the amount goes to the purchase of drugs and medicines including medical, dental and laboratory supplies.