BM Lammawin reminds Kalinga health workers: ‘Be courteous to patients’

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Board Member Camilo T. Lammawin Jr. reminded Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH) health workers to remain courteous and respectful toward patients, saying proper treatment of the public is a basic responsibility of government employees.

Lammawin made the reminder during the September 10 joint committee hearing of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on a complaint involving the alleged improper treatment of a woman in labor at KPH on August 15.

The complaint was filed by the patient’s mother-in-law, who alleged that a health worker questioned the patient’s crying while she was experiencing labor pains and instructed the family to move her to another room.

KPH personnel were also given the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the patient’s admission, the restrictions inside the labor room and the availability of doctors at the time.

Courtesy part of government service

Lammawin said the complaint should remind health workers that courtesy and respect must remain part of their service regardless of the circumstances.

“In the health care, universally, of course, as government workers, we should always be courteous to our clients. Amin nga services tayo koma idiay, always be courteous because the people are paying taxes for our salaries. Ited tayo, isubli tayo laeng iti napintas nga panakikadwa kadagijay tatao tayo,” Lammawin said.

He said government workers have a responsibility to treat the public with respect because taxpayers help fund government services and employees’ salaries.

“Let us not consider them as ordinaryo nga patients but live with respect, courtesy to our people because we are government workers,” he added.

Lammawin also stressed that patients should receive equal treatment regardless of their social or economic status.

“Farmer man dayta, saka saka man dayta, wenno anya man ti estado na iti communidad, pareparehas koma iti panangtrato tayo kanyada,” he said.

Review hospital policies

Rather than focusing solely on assigning blame, Lammawin urged the hospital to use the complaint as an opportunity to review its policies and improve patient care.

“Let us not point fingers, let us take this as a whole to manage our provincial hospital with caring our patients,” he said.

He suggested reviewing existing hospital policies to determine whether some rules need clarification or strengthening, particularly those governing how health workers interact with patients.

Lammawin said clear guidelines could help personnel understand what is expected of them when dealing with patients and their companions.

“...didjay pailang ah ti iyuna tayo tapno ti kasta ket napintas ti management tayo. Ta haan nga maifacefacebook wenno maisocial media,” he said.

He emphasized that addressing concerns through proper hospital and government channels would be more constructive than allowing complaints to escalate on social media.

Focus on better patient care

Lammawin said the hearing should ultimately contribute to improving the delivery of health services at KPH.

He said complaints from patients should be properly heard while health workers should also be given an opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding an incident.

The board member’s remarks came as the provincial board examined both the patient’s complaint and the explanations of KPH personnel.

For Lammawin, ensuring courtesy, equal treatment and proper patient care should remain central to government health services, while complaints should be used to identify policies and practices that may still need improvement.