CATBALOGAN CITY – Access to health services in the region especially in Samar Island is limited due to unavailability of doctors and hospitals including specialty doctors and specialty clinics. This has become more evident during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Data show that provinces like Samar do not attract new doctors. Thus, the need to produce home-grown doctors who have high likelihood to serve their respective hometowns and the entire province was identified.
Data show that the EV region has only 0.25 doctor per 1,000 population, far from the ideal ratio of 1:1000. Seeing the need for a more aggressive intervention to bridge the gap, Samar State University (SSU) proposed to open a medical school, the Samar Island Institute of Medicine (SIIM).
As a step, SSU conducted a feasibility study in the establishment and operation of SIIM. It was found that the greatest challenge to the planned establishment are funds to operate and a training hospital.
“SSU is seeking support from all sectors to lobby the funding of this endeavor at the national level, “ said Dr. Ronal L. Orale, the Vice President for Research and Extension Services and the Chairperson of the Technical Work Group (TWG) of SIIM.
SSU believes that with the right support from stakeholders, the possibility of receiving funding for the SIIM in the next five years is high. In fact, SSU will present the proposal and seek endorsement to the Regional Development Council on the 1st quarter meeting of the Regional Social Development Committee (SDC).
Bulk of the needed cost is for the construction of the SIIM Academic Building, purchase of additional facilities needed, and hiring of qualified doctors to handle classes.
Attractive packages for professors (specialized Medical Doctors) would be made available to attract experts who will man the SIIM.
Some LGUs already expressed their support and spots for deserving students from their municipalities were also identified.
“Students enrolled in the SIIM program will pay very minimal fees if not totally free”, added Dr. Ronald L. Orale in a statement.
The Samar Provincial Government also passed a resolution expressing its support on the opening of the SIIM and stated that the plan is aligned to the provincial government’s efforts in making Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH) a tertiary and training hospital.
The SIIM aims to produce medical doctors who are socially accountable, ethically enlightened, and professionally competent physicians committed to deliver primary healthcare with compassion, dedicated to advance the field of medicine through further training, research and development, and are devoted to serve the communities of Samar and beyond.
Along with Dr. Orale in the TWG were Co-Chair, Dr. Felisa E. Gomba, and members, Dr. Dolores L. Arteche, Dr. Rheajane A. Rosales, and Dr. Tricia A. Yulo. The OIC-Chief of Hospital of SPH, Dr. Jonathan Gabriel J. Paquit and the OIC-Chief Nurse, Jhunlie Escala, RN served as consultants of the TWG.
