DPH submits nominees for health corp. board

Despite lawmakers’ plans to delay the implementation of the Commonwealth Health Corporation next month, Department of Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial will make appointments to the corporation board soon.

Names of the prospective appointees to the seven-member board of trustees have been submitted to the governor for consideration.

“Names [of nominees] have been given to the governor and are now being reviewed. Appointments to the corporation board are expected soon,” Villagomez told Saipan Tribune.

This means, he said, that enforcement of Public Law 16-51 that will transition the Commonwealth Health Center into the health corporation will push through as scheduled on Oct. 1, 2011, despite budgetary issues and appeals to delay its implementation.

Villagomez said the corporation will have a seven-member board of trustees of which three members shall be ex-officio voting members. One member shall be the chief executive officer to be selected by the board, the second member will be the nursing director, and the third given position is for the medical director.

Four of the members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate-two will come from Saipan and one each from Rota and Tinian.

He refused to disclose the individuals being considered for these four posts.

Fitial’s spokesperson, Angel Demapan, yesterday confirmed that the governor is “currently reviewing a pool of potential candidates that may be appointed to the board” and that he wants to make sure that the qualifications and representation requirements prescribed by law are complied with.

Villagomez, who is leading the transition committee created by the governor, said the group had conducted comprehensive analysis and review of all the health centers’ operation and staffing for the smooth start of the corporation.

He admitted that with only $5 million in seed money as starting capital for the corporation, challenges and struggles are anticipated.

“With the current economic condition, there’s never going to be an opportune time [for this corporation]. Yes, there will be struggles in the early phase of the corporation which may take not months but some years, but we will figure out how best to move it,” he said.

Villagomez said the administration assures that despite a “self-sufficient” entity beginning Oct. 1, the government will continue to provide assistance.

“The administration assured us that they are not going to leave us out on our own immediately and we will continue to work with them,” he said.

The health corporation is expected to provide autonomy and management flexibility to the DPH. It will execute a memorandum of understanding for the orderly transfer of personnel, property, and funds from CHC to the corporation.

Having a healthcare corporation will also improve management efficiency by allowing managers to better focus on hospital operations.

The corporation, based on law, is authorized to enter into performance management contracts and other types of contracts with non-profit entities and private sector firms for the management functions and delivery of healthcare services.

It will assume the functions and duties of CHC, the Rota Health Center, the Tinian Health Center, the Women’s Clinic, the Children’s Clinic, the Community Guidance Center, inter-island medical referral services, and other clinics.