BALANCING BUSINESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The Philippine Star
06/13/08

Remember the controversial and anti-hospital business law discussed here previously that virtually allows patients who cannot pay the bills to just walk out of the hospital and leaving a mere promissory note that nearly forced hospital owners and workers to stage a hospital holiday?

Fortunately, some legislators whose business sense and public service is not blurred by presidential ambitions have come up with a bill to counter the effects of the same by looking after the welfare of both private hospital owners and indigent patients in dire need of emergency care and treatment.

House Bill 1221 entitled “An Act providing subsidy to private hospitals and clinics which admit for confinement or treatment indigent patients under emergency cases and appropriating funds thereof,” authored by Nueva Ecija Rep. Czarina Umali is in complete contrast to RA 9439 or the Patients’ Illegal Detention Act.

The Umali bill covered what RA 9439 curiously overlooked: the welfare and viability of private hospital owners and their workers while at the same time guaranteeing that indigent patients requiring emergency care and treatment are not refused admission.

The bill, which was deliberated upon only on its first reading late last year, mandates the Social Welfare and Development Department to issue health cards to properly identified indigent families which may be used in seeking emergency treatment and care at any private hospital in case of an emergency.

Private hospitals will then bill government through the health department of expenses incurred in admitting indigent patients in emergency cases.

The bill reminds me anew of a recent news item wherein a stabbing victim died while being rushed to a government-owned hospital after a privately-owned medical center nearest to the scene of the incident refused him admission.

Hospital personnel reasoned out that the victim was not admitted since he was not accompanied by a relative and was rushed there by a concerned tricycle driver. Of course many of us who know better won’t buy that line. Had a well-known celebrity who can afford to pay the bills been rushed there accompanied by equally popular colleagues who are non-relatives, the hospital personnel most probably would not carry the same excuse.

In filing the bill, Umali underscored the need to balance the rights of everyone, both indigents and hospital owners, with the former to receive appropriate medical attention in times of emergencies, and the latter to earn a living while serving the public through health care.

Bigger health budget needed

The hospital subsidy act likewise underscored the long-sought for additional budget for health care urgently needed to boost the currently inadequate health care delivery service of the government.

Funding for the bill, should it become law, would enable the government to deliver health care services to more citizens even through private medical facilities and institutions.

In addition, expanding the coverage and services of PhilHealth would likewise do wonders for millions of ill-stricken Filipinos and their kin.
It has been noted by many members that while PhilHealth does shoulder part of the hospitalization costs, it hardly puts a dent on the bills.

That, plus the maze of paperwork and bureaucracy one has to go through in filing claims is a big letdown aside from being time consuming.

Again, the appeal to legislators is to minimize, if not stop trivializing, the public with public outbursts and incremental matters, and rather look at ways to, among others, boost the healthcare delivery system which would mean so much to so many Filipinos.

Aside from HB 1221, it would also help to make PhilHealth coverage and services even more significant and comprehensive with minimal increase in contributions and a transparent and judicious handling of Philhealth funds.

With a P12-billion annual budget, the health department is in a bind and can hardly put up new health facilities or maintain and upgrade existing but deteriorating ones both in Metro Manila and the provinces.

Because many government hospitals are ill-equipped or too congested, many are forced to seek treatment in private hospitals but find it hard to settle the more expensive costs.

Hence, a more reasonable health budget, improved PhilHealth services and coverage, and adapting the laudable provisions of HB 1221 would certainly fill in the big gaps in the healthcare delivery system, and more importantly, adequately and appropriately address the healthcare and medical needs of the people, both rich and poor.

Unlike food, shelter and clothing, one cannot beg for or scrimp on healthcare services and procedures. This only further underscores the need to make available healthcare services to as many people as possible. A healthy citizenry is key to productivity, which is essential if we are to further boost the local economy en route to prosperity.

Indeed, there are many more worthy and life-saving matters and issues that deserve the attention of both houses of Congress, matters that directly affect the welfare of Filipinos and not those that offend foreigners and drive away much-needed foreign investors – but that’s another story.

The OSMONDS in Manila

The Osmonds, popularly known as America’s First Family of Entertainment, are in Manila as part of their 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert World Tour that included sold-out performances in London, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sherfield, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, and recently at Australia and Taiwan.

I am sure many of us still remember the hugely popular, top-rated TV variety show, “Donny and Marie” of the late 70s. And who can forget their familiar songs such as, Puppy Love, Paper Roses, Morning Side of the Mountain, Am Leaving it All up to You, and many others. The Osmonds are no strangers in Manila having performed here during the Marcos era.

Luke Pasilao, who is actively promoting the event, assured us that the Osmonds will dish out a high-energy performance act and will definitely revive the Osmondmania of the 70s all over again by dishing out the songs that are familiar to Manila fans.

Don’t miss the Osmonds show at PICC on Saturday, 14th June 2008 and spend the evening down memory lane.

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