The changing of the guards of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) brings focus once again to how the hospital is envisioned
to be in the coming years. As the leading government institution in health [service], PGH is reputed for its public service
par excellence with its training and research components that contributed much to the development of the national health care
delivery system. Because of this reputation, however, PGH continues to face the seemingly insurmountable problem of unlimited
patient load not to mention the fact that 70 percent of the population can ill-afford to seek health care in private institutions.
As far as patient volume is concerned, PGH will be banking on its networking potentials to address the issue. The Ugnayan
para Kalusugan networking program should be taken seriously as the logical and feasible approach to meet the increasing demand
for health services. With respect to training, PGH will remain to increase the level of technical competence for the greater
advancement of health care in the land. The hospital should also make its presence felt in the determination of national health
policy in research.
Financial information as an important facet in decision-making will be given increased focus, while PGH follows the trend
towards 21st century resource and revenue generation. There is also a need to prepare technologically not only in terms of
providing health care but also in administration. PGH looks up to its personnel as a critical resource, therefore human resource
development and the provision of personnel benefits will be given equal importance.
The establishment of its computerization program will set an important course for PGH towards the 21st century. Developing
electronic external links nationally and internationally is envisioned to put the hospital in the forefront of modern health
care delivery. In the same respect, it will bank on information technology to keep abreast with these advancements.
The changing times will public hospitals such as PGH to consider changing directions in the pursuit of its goals. Such
is the case, the future may see PGH considering hospital services as products to be sold to a target clientele using traditional
business tools like good packaging, good marketing, sound financial management and nationalistic and humanitarian focus. This
is indeed a big step to take, but the country’s premiere health institution will surely not be remiss in its duties
to provide the underprivileged members of the society the quality attention and service due to them.
