by Krystal Paco

Guam - The majority of pumps that were ordered late last year are operational at the Guam Memorial Hospital. The pumps are used to administer drugs and other medicines for patients. Four of those have been assigned to be utilized for epidurals but the hospital has yet to offer the service.

Interim hospital administrator Rey Vega says officials are still looking to establish epidurals as a regular service but they are in the process of identifying dedicated staff who will solely handle epidural requests. Earlier this year local OB-GYNs were up in arms about the lack of the service for women in labor.

Vega says the remainder of the pumps are being used in other areas of the hospital.