Rep. Ralph DLG Torres, R-Saipan, said he’s exercising his legislative subpoena power to shed light on the growing problems with the public health care system, particularly at the hospital.
He said he expects other key health officials to attend the hearing on behalf of acting Public Health Secretary Pete Untalan who is scheduled to leave today for Manila for personal medical reasons.
The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the House Chamber. Subsequent hearings will start at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday at the same venue.
“I am expecting the new acting health secretary, the medical director, the human resources director and representatives from the Medicaid [and Medicare programs] to attend the hearing,” said Torres.
He is unhappy with the Department of Public Health’s reluctance to cooperate with his committee.
“I am not just disappointed with the lack of information, I am outraged,” he said.
“The goal and the purpose of the oversight hearing is to get to the bottom of this. Up to now, there’s no documents provided why the hemodialysis center is not opened. We also want to see documents showing how aggressive they are in recruiting new doctors and how patients are treated in the Philippines. What is the process?”
House Sgt.-at-Arms Peter Towai served the subpoena to Untalan on Friday.
According to the document, the committee’s investigation will focus on CHC’s management, medical supplies and equipment, hospital billing and collections, human resources/ recruitment, medical records, customer service, medical referral, emergency room, surgery department, hemodialysis unit, intensive care unit, radiology/lab department, nursing department, psychiatric unit, and the Tinian and Rota Health Centers.
