by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Governor Eddie Calvo in his 2013 State of the Island Address said he couldn't remember a year when the Guam Memorial Hospital had enough funding to adequately treat its patients. He added the hospital is starting to see more people for non-emergency needs because they don't have anywhere else to go.

The governor said GMH is not the solution to primary care. He added they are expanding the emergency room but the hospital needs more revenue to pay its debt and fund urgent care at GMH.

Hospital administrator Joseph Verga said, "The governor has made healthcare a priority as well as education, and of course we have a lot of work to do but we're moving in the right direction. We're all working together for the same thing, so we have an exciting year planned so I'm really looking forward to a lot of great things."

Governor Calvo, however, said the most meaningful contribution his administration can make to public health is to prevent onset of disease itself. The governor noting that overall there's been gradual decreases in overweight adults, rate of smoking and alcohol consumption.

Meanwhile, Governor Calvo also mentioned that when he travels to DC he will also discuss the impact of Obamacare to Guam, saying it's an unfunded mandated that will cost Guam $27 million and that does not include matching costs for Medicaid.