MEDICAL EQUIPMENT worth P47.53 million at the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital (CNPH) are standing idle or not functioning, according to the Commission on Audit’s (CoA) annual report. “The Spiral CT Scan, five units of Dialysis Machine and Digital Mobile X-Ray Machine amounting P47.53 million were either idle or not functional,” said CoA in its audit report. The release of the medical equipment was covered by a memorandum of agreement approved by the Region 5 office of the Department of Health. In the report, the CNPH’s supply officer cited that the reasons for the delay in the use of the newly-acquired medical equipment were: the need for uninterruptible power supply, lack of space for installation, training of personnel, and shutdowns while in use due to power supply interruptions. The state auditors recommended that CNPH prioritize the following: training of personnel who will operate the equipment; funding for the installation of uninterruptible power supply; and immediately replace the defective X-Ray Machine Digital Mobile. In the same report, the CNPH said the CT scan machine is already functioning and a nephrologist has been hired for the dialysis center. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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