Tinian mayor backs delay in implementing health corp.

Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz fully supports a plan to delay the implementation of the new Commonwealth Health Corp., describing the idea as the best move that would prevent more chaos in the delivery of healthcare services.

Public Law 16-51 mandates the conversion of the Department of Public Health into the new Commonwealth Health Corp., including the Rota and Tinian health centers, effective Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year. With only $5 million as seed capital for the new corporation, Dela Cruz is convinced that health programs and services will suffer.

“Tinian municipality is in full support of that idea because I have serious doubts that it will work at this time. I have already raised this issue many times with the [Fitial] administration so I hope it will be considered. I don’t think the corporation will be profitable because for one thing, it will start and stand on its own by having only $5 million—an amount not even enough to pay for some immediate services,” he told Saipan Tribune.

The Department of Public Health earlier disclosed that its operating expenses range from $18 million to $30 million a year, excluding medical referral costs.

Once the corporation is in effect, health centers will be operating under the corporation—not under the municipality’s control, which is the current setup.

“My major concern is, at the end of the day, people who want to get medivac [emergency evacuation] to Saipan, Guam, or the Philippines will still knock on our door to seek help,” Dela Cruz said.

Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola did not answer calls when contacted several times yesterday to get his position on the issue.

Rota Health Center resident director Edward Maratita admitted that there are some uncertainties in the creation of the new health corporation but declined to give an official position whether the Rota Health Center supports or not the delay in its implementation.

On Thursday, House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) told board members of the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance that issues at the Commonwealth Health Center are the most pressing at this time. The topic came up while deliberating on funds for SHEFA’s scholarship programs.

“Our biggest issue now is CHC. It will not survive as a corporation today without the seed money to help them out. They will never survive with only $5 million. Yes, the idea is good…but it needs at least two years to stand ready on its own,” said Cabrera at the meeting.

The Commonwealth Health Center, including the Tinian and Rota health centers, was placed under a state of emergency in July due to a severe cash shortage that has resulted in arrears in payments to vendors of pharmaceutical, medical, dialysis, and food supplies.

According to Tinian Mayor Dela Cruz, the municipality’s health center still owes its vendors about $180,000, including obligation to the center’s midlevel providers.

“THC is struggling and we’re hoping that this emergency declaration will help address some of its immediate concerns,” he said, adding that since the declaration “very little” has happened and bills remain unpaid.

Dela Cruz said that eliminating non-essential offices, including the Indigenous Affairs Office and the Carolinian Affairs Office, may help the government save on funds.