BULATLAT SPECIAL REPORT:
“The issue of privatization in health entered national consciousness, and became part of national discourse.”
They may have stopped the privatization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, but the fight is not yet over.
“The Aquino administration has never increased our salaries, and worse, the number of contractual health workers increased.”
Health workers from various regions joined the protest against the privatization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, and for wage hikes.
Employees and patients of the Philippine Orthopedic Center ask Health Secretary Janette Garin to stay true to her word that she will block the private takeover of the hospital.
“This hospital has been serving the poor for the past 70 years. If this hospital will be privatized, where will these poor patients go?”
“We call on all health workers and the Filipino people to continue the tradition of militancy that brought us the gains and victories in our fight for jobs, salaries and rights. Let us continue the struggle toward a just, healthy and sovereign society.”
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“We should not keep silent on this issue (of privatization) because health is a people’s right.” – Dr. Eleonor Jara, convenor of No to Privatization of Public Hospitals
“We hope our SC justices will open their minds and hearts to the difficulties and hardships of poor patients who are being victimized by privatization and other anti-health policies.” Alliance of Health Workers
Petitioners say the Supreme Court has the perfect opportunity here to give life to state’s constitutional mandate to promote the people’s right to health through the accessibility of affordable health care.
“The government’s privatization programs are allowing private investors to rake in profit out of people’s illnesses.” -- Alliance of Health Workers
“By awarding the POC modernization project to the private investor, the Aquino administration had just signed the death sentence for public orthopedic hospital care.”
“What greater blow can an insensitive government give to the suffering people than privatizing the only public orthopedic hospital where the poor run for treatment?” – Emma Manuel, Alliance of Health Workers
“Healthcare is non-negotiable. The POC has been servicing the poor during its 68 years in existence. The POC should remain for the poor.”
“Eventually, no matter how the DOH strongly denies it, the POC will turn into a private corporation and thus, can no longer provide free nor affordable health services for the people, especially the majority poor.”
For public health workers, serving the Filipino people should always be the government’s priority.
“Medical services here at the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital are really affordable. If this will be privatized then where else will the poor go?”
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By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“The transformation of the service orientation of public hospitals into a profit-driven venture and the shift of health care from the state to private entities is clearly privatization.” – Network Opposed to Privatization
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By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL and BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat.com MANILA –When the Aquino administration took over the reins of government, the public health system was festering and the poor’s access to essential health services has been getting worse. Ibon Foundation’s...
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