By Leonardo Micua
DAGUPAN CITY, (PNA) — The Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) is now a world-class hospital after being awarded ISO certificate by the International Organization for Standardization based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia said this was achieved through industry and dedication by staff of R1MC headed by Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia from doctors to nurses and other personnel of the hospital.
The ISO certification was received by Dr Mejia from Paul Bagatsing, vice president and general manager of the AJA Registrars, Inc.
This was in recognition of the provision for quality curative, preventive and rehabilitative care services to its patients who came from region 1 and the adjacent provinces of la Union, Baguio, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.
De Venecia said R1MC was the first government hospital outside Metro Manila to be given ISO standardization.
The award coincided with the celebration of World Standard Day today (Monday) to recognized of corporations and government agencies that improved their systems in various areas just to render quality service to their clientele.
De Venecia is the author of House Bill 3840 that was passed into law and became Republic Act No. 10614 which was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on June 30, 2013.
RA 10614 not only sought the expansion of R1MC from 300 to 600 bed capacity but also authorized the increase of its medical personnel, upgrading of its services, facilities and professional health care and appropriating funds therefor.
But under the hospital modernization program launched by President Aquino this year, R1MC will be expanded further to 1,500-bed capacity with the construction shortly of its 11-storey main building set to be completed before the end of the the Presi9dent’s term in 2016.
Today, R1MC is considered as the most modern hospital in Pangasinan and the only one in the province which is a tertiary level hospital. North of Manila, it is the only organ transplant hospital accredited by DOH.
De Venecia revealed she has four bills filed in the lower house which she said will help solve some of the most serious health problems in the country.
The first is the establishment of the National Cancer Institute, the second a Kidney Institute, the third a Heart Center and fourth a Lung Center.
If approved into law, the National Cancer Institute would lead to the establishment of national and regional cancer centers throughout the country.
.She said she also filed House Bill 2343 which is a proposed Act providing for the establishment of Centers For Children With Autism and those with Hearing And Speech Impairment.