Bills seeks to fund GMH budgetary shortfalls

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Legislation has been introduced to fund budgetary shortfalls for the Guam Memorial Hospital. Healthcare Committee Chair Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. believes Bill 277 would help provide some much-needed relief to the island's only civilian hospital, which has been operating in the red for years. The measure would also fund the start up of an urgent care facility - meant to alleviate congestion and high costs incurred in the GMH emergency room. 

The $400,000 appropriations would come from tobacco bond fund proceeds.

GMH Spokesperson Ed Crisostomo says officials are still reviewing the bill, "Any help in funding our budgetary shortfalls is greatly appreciated and needed especially when we can provide pharmaceutical supplies to our patients."

A public hearing has not yet been scheduled for the measure.