Dan Alcoriza of the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) in Region VI said that the sorry state of public hospitals is worsened by the government’s “corporatization” plan, which he described as “a euphemism for turning government hospitals into profit-oriented corporations, setting standard tariff fees for all patients in all (their) services.”

Alcoriza said that they support the struggles of health workers in the CLMMRH, and encourages them to form unions and other organizations to protect themselves and advance their interests and welfare.

Bayan, AHW, Courage, and Kadamay announced that they are also supporting the demand of the CLMMRH employees and workers for independent and impartial investigation of Vega, BAC officials and some key personnel of Vega.

Corporatized hospital

The CLMMRH started as a district hospital. It became a regional hospital in the late 1980s.

But according to sources, its status was elevated without the standards of a regional hospital being fully satisfied. These requirements include having separate buildings for each medical function, standard medical equipments, a 300-bed capacity, a certain number of doctors, nurses & health staff, including resident doctors, among others.

In the mid-1990s, the CLMMRH was listed as one of the pilot hospitals out of 38 priority state-run hospitals nationwide by the Department of Health (DOH) for its privatization cum corporatization thrust. Since 1998, it has carried out sweeping changes in hospital management and systems in accordance with the government’s health reform agenda.

But after several years of experimentation, CLMMRH has only turned for the worse.

The envisioned hospital modernization and delivery of affordable and quality services did not materialize. Inside sources who requested anonymity said the construction of new buildings from 1997 to 2000 was full of irregularities. The medical isolation building for one remains unfinished despite the P10 million ($205.634.38 based on the average exchange rate of $1:P48.63 for the period 1997-2000) spent for its construction. Three other buildings remain under-utilized and one, which is supposed to be a modern laboratory building, remains empty of modern equipment.

Today, patients, including children and infants, are cramped in small, old and dilapidated wards. Many lie in the corridors, vulnerable to passing people who may be carriers of communicable diseases.

Higher cost of services

Out-patients are now required to pay a minimum of P30 ($0.65 based on an exchange rate of $1:P46.10 as of June 25) per consultation. A nursing aide tells the patient to pay before being taken to the doctor. This was not the case before, a nursing staff said.

Meanwhile, the hospital pharmacy often does not have basic medicines like paracetamol and aspirin, and supplies like syringes and dextrose. Indigents and PhilHealth cardholders interviewed by Bulatlat said hospital patients are often told to go outside and buy their prescribed medicines and supplies.

A midwife interviewed by Bulatlat confirmed this, saying some nurses and doctors at the emergency room would often give purchase orders to their new patients with specific instructions to buy them at private drugstores instead of the hospital pharmacy.

The midwife scored the lack in the most basic medicines and supplies which could be crucial to the immediate treatment of some deadly illnesses. (Bulatlat.com)

PART 1: Procurement Scam in Negros Regional Hospital

PART 3: Growing Support for Hospital Scam Whistleblower

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