Last week I had my annual medical check up at The Medical City in Pasig.
What a pleasant experience!. Because they have an efficient system, I was able to have my blood test, ECG, and mammogram in one morning.
Prior to my chest and abdominal CT scan, the receptionist in the radiology desk gave me complete instructions (8 hours fasting prior to procedure and schedule of Barium Sulfate intake). That saved me a lot of trouble going to the hospital only to be asked 30 minutes before the scheduled CT scan, “Did you fast?” which happened in my first CT scan experience two years ago.
All personnel were polite, efficient and gentle. No one asked me what Susan Ople was reminded of by a doctor at the emergency ward when she brought her nephew who was shot last June. Susan said the lady doctor on duty looked at her and her other nephew’s bedraggled state , and gently said, “Baka di po ninyo alam. mahal ho dito, ha?” (You might not know that it’s expensive here.)
Susan told the lady doctor she was familiar with their rates because her mother had her hysterectomy and her father, the late Senator and Foreign Secretary Blas Ople, had his angioplasty there.
I guess it’s just expected that superior service does not come cheap. I thank Medicard Philippines, Malaya’s Health Maintenance Organization partner, which enabled me to avail of The Medical City’s services.
Last year, I had my CT scan at the Philippine General Hospital.
One needs huge doses of humility and patience and a strong heart at PGH. I find the experience invaluable.
I had to be re-scheduled three times before my CT scan procedure pushed through because of incomplete preparation instructions. First I was not told that aside from no solids for 8 hours prior to procedure, I should not also take water. I drank water before going there.
The second time I went there, I was asked for my CT scan the previous year. It was not with me because I was not told about it. It was at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa. So, I was re-scheduled again for the third time.
I forgot, one also needs strong legs at PGH because you’ll do a lot of walking. My third schedule was at 2 p.m. I was there before 1 p.m. I first lined up to pay at the Cashier’s counter. Then I was given the list of medicine that I had to buy. So I went out and walked to the nearest Mercury Drug because the pharmacy stores in front of the hospital refused to accept credit card and I didn’t have enough cash on hand.
Mercury Drug didn’t have all the medicines I needed so I had to go to other pharmacy stores. By the time I went back to PGH with everything needed for the procedure, it was almost 5 p.m.
I was third in line for the CT scan. Before me was a male patient in a wheeled cot accompanied by his wife and daughter. The wife looked disoriented having arrived from Leyte the day before. She was feeling cold so the daughter had to leave them to go their room to get her sweater. His turn came while the daughter was away. There was no hospital attendant to push the bed inside the CT scan room so I had to help.
Mistaking me for a relative of the patient, the hospital staff was asking me questions about him. The daughter came back just in time for the start of her father’s CT scan.
It was past 7 p.m. when I finished with my CT scan. Famished, I went to nearby Robinson’s shopping mall for hot soup.
I was walking back along Padre Faura to Taft Avenue to take the bus to Las Piñas when I saw a tricycle. After all the walking I did whole afternoon, I decided to take it for P20. We had just gone a short distance when I noticed that we were going against the flow of the traffic.
I yelled at the driver, “One way pala ito” (This is one way). Without missing a beat in his bike, he replied, “Okay lang yan Ma’am. Araw-araw namin ginagawa ito.” (It’s okay, Ma’am. We do this every day.)
Panicking, I said, “I just survived cancer, I don’t want to die in a vehicular accident.” I got off. I lectured him about following traffic rules. Sheepishly he said, “Ma’am, kailangan kumita, eh.” (I have to earn a living.)
I felt humbled. There I was worrying about the little inconveniences I had to go through while this driver was risking everything, including life, to make a few pesos.
Paano na ang mga mahihirap? Amazingly, I am told that dumpsite dwellers are not as susceptible to diseases. I guess it is God’s way of saving them from the sharks in Philippine hospitals!
Ellen,
I sold newspaper & ice drop popsicle at 11. Yes I once risked my life for a few pesos along the streets. I will go back to this business when I retire soon but as an SME’s inside a mall. You felt humbled? it shows your spiritual & academic wisdom.
To ellen:
may the Almighty keep you healthy
Your hospital experience seemed like a misadventure and somehow we can’t pinpoint where to start looking for the “holes” in the system. I would say we start from the Department of Health, which should have all the guidelines of all the requirements for all the necessary tests (fasting, samples, etc) available and properly disseminated to the public. That hospitals pharmacies should have sufficient stock of all medications. That if possible test like CT scans, MRI and others should be done on strict scheduling for non-emergency cases, and have sufficient equipment set aside for both, but could be only overridden in cases of Emergencies. But most importantly, these and all are all moot without the proper financing of medical care and proper administration of its funds. When all of these happen, then maybe all yours and the rest visit to their health care facilities will be a routine and pleasant experience, instead of another stress to the soul..
jun,
ito ba ang kurakot na journalist na sinasabi mo? ni hindi makabili kahit bulok na bisikleta? nagtitiyagang mamasahe makarating lamang sa pupuntahan at makauwi sa sariling tahanan? kurakot ba sa iyo ang magsiwalat ng katotohanan at matamisin pa ang labanan ang katiwalian kaysa kumita sa maruming paraan?
sa mga bumabatikos at nagsasabing bias si ellen, magagawa ba ninyo ang isaisangtabi ang pansariling kapakanan maiparating lamang sa taong bayan ang katotohanan? magagawa ba ninyong banggain ang pader na nagsisilbing hadlang upang malaman ng sambayanan ang tunay na ginagawa ng mga gahaman sa loob ng malakanyang? magagawa ba ninyong magpakababa sa halip na ipangalandakan ang sinasabi ninyong paggawa ng kabutihan sa kapuwa?
Re Vic’s comment: “That hospitals pharmacies should have sufficient stock of all medications.”
Vic, because of lack of money, hospital pharmacies stock only the most basic such as antibiotics. That’s why the corruption in the highest level of governments, such as Gloria Arroyo’s using taxpayers for the trips of pro-ChaCha advocated, payment for congressmen’s anti-impeachment votes, diversion of funds for Arroyo’s election campaign, etc, etc. are criminal in the face of the pitiful state of government hospitals.
PGH is still lucky in many ways because it gets grants from foreign governments but you should see the state of our provincial and Medicare hospitals. Maiiyak ka. That’s why I can just imagine how it was at the Rizal Medical Center where 9 infants died of neo sepsis.
Excerpts from Susan Ople’s narration of her traumatic experience at the East Avenue Medical Center, to give you a picture of how it is in government hospitals.
When I had my surgery at PGH in Nov. 2003, I was given a list of medicines needed. I bought them all and they were turned over to the nurse.
After surgery, while I was in the recovery room, I heard a pained cry. I asked the nurse where I was because I thought all the other patients were like me, drowsy and half concious because of anesthesia.
The nurse said the patient (in agony) did not have enough anesthesia and there’s nothing they could do.
Heartbreaking.
I’m told that many of the medical interns in PGH had to be the one to buy medicines for the patients.
talagang ganyan sa pilipinas noon pa man. panahon ni marcos, nasa kolehyo ako nang magpa-opera ng csyt na maliit lang naman. doon ako napunta sa isang kwarto na tatlo yata kami. doon sa isang kama ay isang babae na wala pa sigurong 30 -40 ang edad. sa suso ang cyst niya kaya kita rin namin siya.
sabi ni ellen:
I yelled at the driver, “One way pala ito” (This is one way). Without missing a beat in his bike, he replied, “Okay lang yan Ma’am. Araw-araw namin ginagawa ito.” (It’s okay, Ma’am. We do this every day.)
Panicking, I said, “I just survived cancer, I don’t want to die in a vehicular accident.” I got off. I lectured him about following traffic rules. Sheepishly he said, “Ma’am, kailangan kumita, eh.” (I have to earn a living.)
I felt humbled. There I was worrying about the little inconveniences I had to go through while this driver was risking everything, including life, to make a few pesos.
————————————————
sa tingin ko ay isa itong kamalian. ang paglabag sa batas ay isang pagkakamali at dapat parusahan. hindi dapat bigyan ng palusot. araw-araw ginagawa? malamang na ang one-way street na yun ang pinakamalapit o pinakamaikling daan. menos nga namn sa gasolina. pero araw-araw ginagawa? malamang may tong o lagay sa barangay na may bahagi rin sa mga pulis na may bahagi sa hepe na may bahagi sa….hanggang meyor kaya? at nangyayari ito dahil KAILANGANG KUMITA PARA MABUHAY. paikot-ikot lang ang pinoy.
Yes Ellen, I can sympathize with a lot because just now, my own brother is being released from one of the hospitals over at Laguna after being confined for five days for a mild heart issue. I just got off the phone and checked the bill and this is the up tenth time he and his wife been in and out of hospitals for a few years now. It really hurts, thinking how the most can afford the insanely cost of getting sick and what are the options? Everyone of us as we get older will demand lot of health care and medication and at the time when most is no longer capable of making a living and the pension if ever there is one is barely enough for daily necessities. Some could only thank for the caring children and relatives, but what about those who have none to run to?
We could understand these situation, if we don’t see with our own eyes, how the very people entrusted to provide these care are spoiling themselves with unimaginable wealth, spending left and right and could get a first class ticket to some foreign hospitals and clinics for their own health care, with the money that God only knows how they get away stealing away from the rightful owners, the people.
We used to have a Children Medical Clinic at our residence in Cainta and every day my sister will take patients of poor parents free of charge and also had to give money for medication for some who will not ask, but you can see it in their eyes that they were pleading for help. And we are never rich enough to help all. Sad now that me and my sister are looking at the situation from a different angle, it was sad then, it just getting sadder. I hope and wish that this message will find its way into the hearts of the people who could matter most. And they knew who they are. Thank you all..
Ellen:
I just don’t know what to say whenever I read or hear stories about hospitals. Just listening to a friend relate to us how her brother died outside of a hospital in Cebu unattended because they had no 50 thou pesos to give as a downpayment, made me sick! Most of us can relate to these stories, if members of our families weren’t victims yet. As I’ve mentioned in a previous thread, kung sa Maynila ganyan kabulok ang hospital situations, double or even triple it in provinces! No money, forget the hospitals…there’s money, no available medications, and lately, there’s money, no doctors or nurses to attend to your needs! It’s sad, but you’re left with one or any of the above choices… very often..no choice at all..but..DIE!!!
Yung mga matitinding hospital dito sa Metro Manila, parang pang community hospital lang sa Singapore.
Ang mga napuntahan kong Hospital sa Singapore ay itong Geylang Polyclinic(may record ako dito), Ang Mo Kio(dito ko binibisita ang kaibigan ko), at itong Tan Tock Seng Hospital(binisita ko ito noong Sept 2000).
Ang ganda nitong Tan Tock Seng Hospital parang mall, kaparehas din ng The Medical City sa Ortigas, Pasig – ang laki.
Maganda ang MRI facilities ng The Medical City. High tech!
Kaya din bang gayahin ng Pilipinas ang medical standard sa Singapore?
can or cannot?
nelbar, magkakaroon na naman ng pagpipistahan ang mga suwapang sa malakanyang. okey lang sana kung mayroong totoo sa kanila na nagmamalasakit sa kapakanan ng taong bayan, ang kaso, ang pinupuntirya nila – ANG KABAN NG BAYAN.
Ellen,
What is part of the Philippine national budget is allocated to health?
In the 2006 budget of P1.05 trillion pesos, only 1.3 percent of the budget went to health. Debt service ate up 33.24 percent of the budget.
May sakit ang tatay ko 3 weeks ago. Sabi ko sa aking kapatid at mga pamangkin ay dalhin sa Veteran Hospital sa QC dahil iyon ang kanyang ospital. (when i was little, tuwang-tuwa ako sa ospital na ito dahil nakakapaglaro pa kami sa paligid).
Sabi sa akin, hindi na lang kasi ay walang lumalabas ngayon doon na buhay, walang-gamot, hindi asikaso gaya ng dati, etc.
So, they decided to bring him in to the Bataan Provincial Hospital. Kahit malaki ang gastos, ayon at magaling naman na ang mahal kong ama.
Ang puntos ko, tayong mga may kita (ng konti) ay may panggastos, paano na iyong mga may karamdaman na wala man lang pang-deposito na P50K. (Oo nga, sa Cebu ay ito ang halaga ng deposito.) Pinsan ng kabiyak ko ay hindi tinanggap sa ospital doon ng isugod, hanggang mag-ambagan na lang ang mga magkakamaganak. Ano ba ‘yan? Nakakalungkot.
Ellen:
Since you’re not shy in sharing your personal life and experience with all of us, you got me wondering. I’ hope you won’t mind me asking, do you’ve or carry any type of medical insurance? If not, do you put any type of deposit or when it’s all over, your physical exam, how do you make the payment? Is it all cash? How much your physical check up like yours cost? I’d pressume that you can afford The Medical City in Pasig. How about just an ordinary person without wealth to compare to those who can afford the type of Physical that you received…don’t even think of going to The Medical City?
Old adage, “you only get what you pay for.” Is that also apply at The Medical City?
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Ellen,
My sis was in hospital for last week (St Luke’s) for just a few days following a bout with a severe case of bronchitis (she’s asthmatic) which the doctors said that had she not consulted right away, could have developed into pneumonia. The expense was already horrendously high.
She’s not employed at the moment but luckily, she has brothers and sisters abroad who all pitch in to pay for her medical expenses. I don’t know how others who don’t have the money do it – surely state-owned hospitals can all be that bad.
Part of our compensation package in Malaya is an HMO and for the past two years, we have Medicard, Philippines. (Earlier we had CAPHealth). Medicard has The Medical City for its accredited hospitals. So, I’m thankful for that. Asian Hospital is not included among Medicard’s accredited hospitals.
For the CT Abdominal and Chest Scan, the charge was about P22,000. Medicard shouldered only P10,000. So I paid P12,000. (In Asian Hospital, two years ago I was charged P27,000. At PGH, I spent about P8,000 including the medicines I bought.)
My bloodtests, all charged to Medicard amounted to P10,260.
I can’t find the bill for the Mammogram and the ECG which were all taken care of by Medicard.
I was told St Luke’s is also very good.It’s also accredited by Medicard but it’s just too far for me.
Toney asked: “Old adage, “you only get what you pay for.” Is that also apply at The Medical City?”
With The Medical City and Asian Hospital, you can say that’s true.
I can’t say the same with other private hospitals. My endocrinologist’s clinic is at the Manila Doctors’ Hospital. The corridor which is the waiting room is so hot. Only two or three electric fans for the whole long corridor. It’s an ordeal staying there for four hours which is usually the amount of time I spend waiting for my turn whenever I have my check up with her.
Other private hospitals maybe charging less but if the service is inefficient, it turns out to be more expensive if you have to consider the stress that you have to go through.
Toney asked: “Old adage, “you only get what you pay for.” Is that also apply at The Medical City?”by toney..
That could be true to most, but not really in our situation. I can share my own experience on this one. my annual medical bill, my physicians alone and laboratories tests, on a regular maintenance basis amounted to more than an average annual income. But since ours is a universal, anyone who is a residents of this country, who is legally covered by our system, get equal care, no matter how much taxes an individual pays, or even those who are on social assistance. Health care is available to all Equally. And is paid by the national taxes, unless you want a plastic surgery or procedures out of basic or necessary care..Rich or poor, working or not, Health care is for all..
And our health care budget eats up more than half of our taxes, but its wortth it..
That’s one good thing about well developed countries like Canada. I understand Canada has one of the best health care systems in the world. Better than in the U.S.
Ellen,
My goodness me! The cost of CT scan is higher in Pinas it seems than even in a private clinic here. Private CT clinics abound here but there is no real difference between a private clinic or a state-owned hospital here – that’s because we get reimbursed 80% of what we pay by our state social security, the remaining 20% is covered by a private insurance scheme. The difference perhaps is the waiting time – less people in private clinics than in hospitals.
I had mamography last year and I paid 250 Euros altogether but again I was reimbursed 100% of the money I advanced.
In France, a patient doesn’t even have to make any cash advances if he/she holds the “carte Vitale” – the card is like a bank card and you clock it at the doctor’s when you pay – it is linked directly to the social security center; doctors are paid by the center.
However, there are medical specialists here whose fees are not regulated by the social security and can charge patients what they want (basic regulated fee for a GP is 25Euros to 50Euros and for non regulated is between 50Euros and 100 Euros.)
The basic fee is still reimbursed by the social security (80% of state-regulated doctors’ fees if doctors fall under the regulated fee scheme) while the remaining 20% is covered by the patient’s own private insurance. Depending on what kind of insurance the patient subscribes too – eg, A, B, C, D, the patient could either be reimbursed part or whole of the remaining 20% payment he/she makes to the doctor. If a person consults a doctor in a hospital – everything is for free, even medicine, meaning no cash advances necessary on the part of the patient.
My former Filipina maid (who didn’t have a working permit therefore had no social security coverage whatsoever) had an eye operation in a hospital totally for free – I accompanied her to the social welfare services of the hospital who issued a certificate waving the fees. There are many Filipinas who don’t have social security cover here because they are illegal but didn’t have to cough up a cent to give birth, not even when they had to deliver by caesarean section.
There are private hospitals in Brussels and Paris but there are very, very few of them and are usually called “cliniques” if ever they come anywhere near hospital status – the cost of hospital equipment is just stupendous I suppose for a medical group to want to compete with the State which supplies the latest state of the art equipment regularly.
The only time I went to a “clinique” in Paris was when I had my treatment against ulcer which took half a day of “hospitalization” altogether, otherwise, I’d never have ventured to check in into a “clinique” here for a major operation. (I also prefer the hospital services on the Continent than in the UK – too complicated in the UK!)
Nelbar asked:”Kaya din bang gayahin ng Pilipinas ang medical standard sa Singapore? can or cannot?”
Hospitals like The Medical City, St. Luke’s and Asian Hospital show that we can.Kaya natin.
The question should be, can it be done with government hospitals, or just PGH? We can. What is needed is right priorities and most of all, political will.
I hope and pray this response of mine about Canadian Health Care system won’t be deleted. Canadian health care system being the best in the world is over advertised to lure more immigrants to the country. I’m sorry Vic to say that. My relatives and friends in Canada are complaining about the long wait. It takes months to have an appointment with specialists. For those with terminal and serious illnesses like cancer, they also have to wait very long. My old uncle’s hip needs to be operated on. It’s been almost one year of waiting. Furthermore, Canada lacks good doctors and medical staff. The main reason for this is because they are underpaid and overworked. As a result, many left for abroad to work like in the US. I heard there’s a plan to recognize foreign credentials especially with the medical field. But, it’s all plan. If this materializes, then I see some improvement because foreign doctors and nurses can now easily work in Canada. For the poor and unemployed, of course Canadian healthcare is better than none. It always helps to get a supplemental heatlh coverage but this is for those who are empployed and given by the employers.
Noel, you are right about the foreign doctors not being able to practice here..my brother in law and my sister have to move to the u.s. to practice. Canada immigration is a Federal affair, while health care is a responsibility of the Provincial Government. the long wait for selective cases is also true, that is because emergency cases are taken care on a priority basis. Hips replacements and procedures that are not considered emergencies have to fall in line, because of the line up on a first come, first serve basis. the shortages of nurses and doctors are now being addressed by most provinces, but since professional pracrtices here are regulated by the professions themselves, the governments (provinces) have to negotiate with their corresponding colleges and medical associations to ease the requirements for entry. Philippines graduate nurses here are no longer an automatic entry, but another upgrade of a year or two, depending on each other capabilities is needed to meet the standard. For medical doctors, I suggest the U.S. is better prospect. For extended health care that are covered by employers, are for non-basic health care like prescription glasses, orthotics, massage theraphies, and lot of procedures that are also extended to the poor by the govt. on the separate plans. But my experience if you need a transplant or by-pass or cancer treatment and the bill could go up to hundred of thousands, and you would not be able to work the rest of your life, then you’ll be grateful you are a canadian.. thank you..
And for the Practitioners who were complaining about being underpaid and overworked, most who moved to the U.S. are now back again, since the goverenment sweetened the deal, and some found that the competition in the U.S, is not to their liking. If my own siblings are qualified to practice here, maybe later on they might even move back..to bill the government instead of the patient or the patient’s insurance is much simpler..
Npongco,
See, you can beautifully discuss against an issue.
Sorry Ellen, off topic.
Thanks Vic. My niece completed nursing in RP. She wants to immigrate and work in Canada. Will she find it easier than applying in the US? I also heard about the so called Provincial Nominee Program. Many nurses from the Middle East especially in Saudi Arabia are moving to Canada by large numbers. Is this true?
Ellen,
A few years back, my daughter was hospitalized at the Makati Medical Center for dengue. When I called her pediatrician in Paris to ask if it would be adviseable to have her repatriated to Europe, her doctor advised for us to stay in Manila because she reckoned Philippine hospitals would be as good, if not better to deal with the ailment.
I must say that I wasn’t disappointed. The only thing that I complained about during my daughter’s almost two week hospitalization was the air conditionning – I thought I’d die because of the cold. I learned later on that they had problem with the overall air conditioning.
As to the doctors who treated her – all of them – they were first class and so were the nurses.
Oui. RP has the one of the best doctors and nurses in the world. They are the in great demand everywhere. The problems in RP are the facilities and lack of modern equipment. That explains why the rich and politicians go abroad for simple medical care. Gambling lords like Bong Pineda frequents US for hair transplant.
Noel, due to shortages of nurses, the college of nurses and the government are talking about easing up the requirements, just like the old days, during my elder sisters time (the other one just retired this month, both are now retirees)when the were only required to take a certifying exams which is peanuts for a Philippines Graduate of yesteryears. I’m pretty sure the recent graduates are just as good or even better. Depending on demands, they other professional bodies might end up easing their requirements too. But the government is encouraging local students to proceed to Universities by providing generous grants and available students’ loans. As everyone knows youths here can’t just wait to get employed as soon as they hit their legal age and want to live on their own.
But even for new nurses to qualify is not that much of the burden, because students loan are available and only payable when they get employment in their field and the interest is negligible. There are still a lot of our new nurses who qulifies in a matter of time and the efforts is worth, because being licensed in Ontario can be their ticket to qualify anywhere in the U.S. and can even work in the middle east for some highly paid positions. again thanks for this nice exhange for the betterment of our health care in both side of the oceans..
My friend, a Filipina immigrant in Italy, had her surgery recently at St. Lukes. Asked why she flew all the way from Italy to Phil, she said that St Lukes physicians are as good, if not better, than Italian doctors, and the facilities are good. Balita raw iyan sa Fil community sa Italy.
I believe her because my first cousin, a brilliant neuro, works there. Ayaw niyang mag-doctor sa overseas kasi mas maganda raw ang facilities nila at first class daw ang SL.
So, malaki ang pag-asa na tayo ay umunlad at kaya natin basta mawala lang sa ating landas si Glue, ang mga Pidals, at ang mga walang kwentang politiko.
Problem Chi is, you gotta have money…
Ellen:
How can the poor pay for those expensive CT scan? Highway robbery!
The other day, I accompanied a Filipino to the hospital because the result of her X-ray showed a cyst in her right lung. She was told to undergo a CT scan. She paid only 2,000 yen, which is less than 20US$. The rest is covered by the National Insurance that I told her to get for her and her daughter, who is free and given special welfare and health care for children.
I helped get her a free board and lodging for a year that is provided by the local government. There is also extra money for the education and medicine of the daughter who is 5 years old and will be entering the grade school next year, all paid for by the local government. That’s how they inculcate love of country over here.
On the other hand, it is amazing that despite the lousy way the Philippine government treats its citizens, a lot many Filipinos would still call the Philippines, “My country, right or wrong!”
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Yuko,
Re: “a lot many Filipinos would still call the Philippines, “My country, right or wrong!””
Can’t really blame them – many of them, and even for most Filipinos, they only have the Philippines for their country…
Anna:
Have you heard of the speech of the Midget in China, equating the husband with Rizal, a great Chinese descendant who has become the Philippines’ national hero? Sobra hallucination sa ulo!
Hahahah!
Talaga? May sira na rin sa ulo, hah! Siruro dahil sa dami ng bisekleta sa China, nag-kabisikleta na rin sa ulo itong si bansot!
Yuko,
Hindi na kinilabutan – hahahah!
O baka naman halloween joke lang niya iyan?
Si Jose Pidal Miguel Arroyo ay pareho ng asawi ni Bansot? Hahahahahah! Oh mi gosh – joker din pala itong si Bansot, hah?
Oops, sorry! Sa tawa ko, baligtad tuloy ang naisulat ko.
What I wanted to type was: “Si Jose Rizal ay pareho daw ni Jose Pidal Miguel Arroyo, asawa ni Bansot? Hahahahah!
Maski talampakan siguro ni Jose Rizal hindi puwedeng abutin nitong si Fatso. Nakakahiya itong si Bansot – pati ba naman sa Tsina, puro pangba-baboy ang ginagawa niya?
Yes Anna, I forgot the money aspect:). Unlike Scandinavia, Netherlands (which is number one yata in health and welfare benefits), and other EU socialist countries, kasama na siguro ang Canada, we are not concern much on hospital expenses.
Taxes are very high, but we can see where they’re going.
I was treated for 4 months in a Copenhagen hospital, wala kaming gastos, except kalahati ng aming salaries na mag-asawa ay nasa tax. Nakakainggit….the cradle to grave welfare benefits in these rich and well-managed countries. No comparison because of the ever-expanding Pinoy population too, pero sana kahit konti lang ay makita natin ang improvement ng mga government hospitals sa Pinas, where the poors go.
Twice today, the midget made me laugh out loud. First was the furniture issue with Binay, the second and better one na nabulunan ako was this China speech. Dagukan sana ni Rizal kahit sa panaginip lang. NAKAKAPANINDIG BALAHIBO.
Germany used to have one of the best health care system in the world. There has been a few changes lately. In fact, the Bundesrat is busy working on different health reforms now so we’re expecting for some more reductions in welfare benefits.
Part of the blame on these changes here are due to abuses done by the people themselves. Despite these so-called reforms, we ‘re still enjoying a lot of these benefits that other western countries don’t especially those privately insured.
It would indeed be a dream come true if our Philippines could improved it’s government hospitals in all aspects. Of course this could only happen when…..the people finally decide to change first the people governing our country!
In Scandinavia… not “Unlike S..” Naloko na pati sentence ko dahil sa katatawa sa Tsina speech ni Midget. Nakakaloka talaga, Anna.
That’s why Elvie I continue to visualise that Glue and all the Pidals are being swallowed by the one in-charge of hell. Too evil are the Philippine leaders today that progress, even in smallest aspects of life, seems unattainable.
Talaga naman ang agaling ng mga doctor and nurses natin. And they have that caring attitude that you can’t find with western doctors.
Many of the doctors in private hospitals here in Manila practice in PGH. That’s why PGH has one of the best doctors and nurses. ( Sobra lang talaga ang dami ng indigent patients.) Their work in PGH is actually public service and they try to earn their living in expensive private hospitals.
Like my oncologist, Dr. Cecilia Llave, is also with Asian Hospital and Manila Doctors hospital.
Buti nabanggit mo Ellen, isa palang importanteng rason why those Fil-Italian patients chose St. Lukes is that “caring attitude” na wala sa western doctors. My friend said that alagang-alaga raw siya sa St. Lukes kaya sulit ang kanyang gastos.
I remember when PGH was the talk-of-the-town hospital dahil sa husay ng mga doktor at nurses. In mid 90’s ang pinsan ko pumila sa PGH para sa kanyang baby na (nagtutubig ang brain) tinanggihan sa ibang ospital dahil wala na raw pag-asa. Inopera sa PGH, ngayon she is a smart beautiful kid.
I just hope that someone among the leaders pay real attention to the government hospitals. My heart is always torn apart when I hear news that a baby died because of walang pang-deposito, or infection, etc. Ang daming satsat pero walang aksyon.
I remember the exact words of my late uncle, a veteran journalist, “Matabil lang iyang si Gloria, marunong magsalita, pero walang puso para sa mahirap kaya maghihirap ang Pilipinas”. Well said.
That also explains why are our caregivers or nursing aids are the favorites of these foreigners. The caring ways of the Filipinos. Because of these traits, enterprising Filipinos decide to go into business by putting up home care centers. I know of many Filipinos who become very successful in this business.
Anna:
I did not hear the speech in China of the Bansot but a friend there had told me about it. Nakakakilabot daw especially when she tried to project herself as the female version of Jose Rizal! Tignan mo ang hairdo niya at hair style ni Rizal!
Matapos niyang bastusin si Rizal sa Baguio speech niya, kaarawan pa mandin ng Bayaning Rizal ng sabihin ng sinungaling na ito na hindi siya tatakbo sa 2004 election. Ngayon, she’s projecting herself as female Rizal? Pwede bang ituloy na ang babaeng ‘yan sa mental asylum!
ystakei? si glutonia, female version ni jose rizal? paanong nangyari? meron na ba siyang ginawang sakripisyo para sa bayan? nagawa na ba niyang maglingkod nang libre upang maipakita ang tunay na diwa ng kabayanihan? magnanakaw ba si rizal?
ginagaya pati hairstyle ni rizal? lagyan mo ng bigote at magiging kamukha niya si mickey mouse.
Hahahahaha! Sabi ko nga Rizal hairdo ang ayos ng buhok niya e! You bet, Chi, dapat ipasok na ito sa mental hospital.
Tama ka Yuko!
Akala siguro niya dahil sa bansot siya ay puwede na niyang maabot ang talampakan ni Rizal. Di na nahiya – walang hiya talaga…
talampakan ni rizal hindi pa rin kayang maabot? lahi ba siya ng tungaw? o hanip? kunsabagay, wala namang kahihiyan ang parasite, di ba?
Totoo yan, Mrivera…puro mag parasites iyang nasa Malacanang ni Gloria. Puro mga linta – leeches, sucking the blood of their fellowmen.
Ano ba ang puedeng ipanglaban diyan sa mag linta?
Sunugin siguro…
Meron akong napuntahan na private hospital kagagi(kaninang tanghali lang kami lumabas).
Sa totoo lang undermanned. Hindi na maayos ang mga facilities at mga gamit. Hindi na rin nalilinis ang mga CR. Pati ang mga gamit sa loob ng kwarto ay mga luma na rin.
Iyong mga medical supplies disorganize.
Nurse kakaunti? Diba ang Hospital dapat 24 by 7 din ito?
Sa loob-loob ko, papaano naging private ito?
Napapailing na lang ako sa bwisit kanina.
Tapos, dagdagan pa ng taxi driver na mga mapipili paglabas mo ng hospital?
Kanina, nung nagpara ako ng taxi, sukat ba namang tanungin pa kami ng taxi driver na “saan kayo?” , “magkano binabayad nyo doon”.
sagot ko na lang “sige, hwag na, tangna mo!” (sabay bagsak ng pinto ng taksi nya…
…sa loob loob ko, anong klaseng bansa ito?
I also missed that speech of Arroyo tracing Mike Arroyo’s lineage to Rizal.I tried to look for it in Malacañang’s website. There’s none.Hidi tuloy ako makapag-comment.
Ang madalas na katagang nasasabi ng mga Ama ng tahanan ay “Bawal ang magkasakit!”
Dahil nga sa laki ng gagastusin sa ospital ay ginagawa na lamang ng karamihan ang “self-medication” o kaya ay itatanong sa mga pharmacists ang nararapat na gamot sa nararamdaman na sakit sa katawan.
Kadalasan ay nagiging malala ang sakit kaysa gumaling. Doon pa lamang magpapatingin sa doktor at magpapa-confine sa ospital.
Hinahangaan ko ang iyong kumpanya, Ms. Ellen, dahil isa sa inyong benefits ang medical-card na maaaring gamitin sa mga magagandang ospital. Bibihira ang mga kompanya diyan sa Pilipinas na ganyan ang ibinibigay na isa sa mga benefits ng mga manggagawa. Papaano ang mga manggagawa sa mga call centers at assembly lines ng mga electronic micro-chips? Sigurado iyan sakit mo, gamot mo, di ba?
Kaya maganda ang ginagawa ng magagaling na mga doktors diyan sa atin na nagsasama-sama sila at nagtatayo ng mga clinics na kung saan kumpleto ang mga gamit. Maging miyembro lamang ng medical-card program ay libre na rin sa mga check-ups. Pero hindi biru-biro ang halaga ng medical-card package. Miyembro ako ng medical-card program na ito kaya hindi ako nangangamba na kung magkasakit ako sa aking pagbabalik diyan sa Pilipinas ay libre ang check-ups ko sa program na ito. Gamot lamang ang aking bibilhin.
I was informed that The Medical City is tying up with Ateneo University for the latter’s College of Medicine.
Nelbar, maraming ganyan.That’s why if you see a hospital run efficiently like a corporate organization, what a relief!
Salamat Ellen,
Natatandaan ko pa ang unang confine ko sa hospital noong 1978. Dyan sa lumang hospital ng Trinity, sa Sta.Ana Manila, sakto sa araw pa mismo ng 7th birthday ko(patapos na ako ng Grade 1 nuon). Sabi ng mga magulang ko ay nabales lang yata ako.
Naisip ko nga ngayon, kung papaano ako nagawan ng paraan na maipasok duon samantalang private yun noong panahon na yun —- at talagang maganda ang mga pasilidad, labas masok sa mga kwarto ang mga doktor at nurses, dami nila. Kasi noong panahon na yun kahit wala kang pera basta sinugod ka sa emergency, tanggap ka agad sa ER at ng Admitting staff. Mahirap kasi para sa isang nangangamuhan lang na magulang ang makapasok sa isang pribadong ospital.
Pero syempre ang unang punta ko talaga sa ospital ay noong iniluwal ako ng Nanay ko, sa Fabella.
Ang hindi ko talaga malimutan ay itong San Lazaro Hospital, dahil dito namatay ang kapatid kong babae na sumunod sa akin noong 1975.
Ellen, share ko na rin sa inyo.
Kaya ako nagpa-MRI sa Medical City noong nakaraang taon ay dahil sa Cholecystectomy(sa Lourdes Hospital). Buti na lang at may Blue Cross ako na provide naman ng company namin. Pinapili kasi ako ng doctor ko kung saan ko gustong magpa MRI (NKI , St.Lukes at Medical City).
Naisip ko agad na bago ang hospital at parang Mall?
Nakuha ko ang sakit ko sa kakapuyat at irregular na oras ng kain. Alam mo naman siguro ang nature ng trabaho sa 24×7 environment? -Panay beverages at sitsirya.
Kaya pasalamat talaga ako sa mga doctor ko, mga nurses at lahat ng hospital staff dyan Lourdes.
Sana talaga ay mabigyan ng pansin ng kinauukulan ang mga hospital dito bansa natin. Hindi lang sa pasilidad at mga gamit, pati na rin ang pamantayan o pamamaraan na angkop sa kasalukuyang pangangailangan.
Ibig kong sabihin ay sana sa eskwelahan pa lang ay tinuturo na ito.
Sayang at ang dami dami natin kung mag-prodyus taon taon ng mga nurses at mga allied medical courses, pero napapag-iwanan tayo sa larangan ng Health Care.
At isapa, dalawa ang Senador natin ang nanggaling sa propesyon ng Medisina? Kaya sana ay hindi lang mabigyan ng pag-aaral ito kungdi ay ma-solusyonan din.
MAGKAROON NG HOSPITAL SA BAWAT DISTRITO NG PILIPINAS
hi ellen,
just wondering if you can provide information as to how i can claim my grandmother’s death cert from the Philippine Heart Center. She died on 9/13/07. Our balance left is 90k and unformtuntely, i don’t have this big amount of money. I am the breadwinner. We availed of the social service discount but they gave us 50% less against the actual bill. My aunt and uncle could not provide anything.. Im very hopeless. The hospital does not want us to provide promisorry note since we availed of the social service program. We can’t schedule my grandmom’s burial becoz of this. Please let me know what else can be done.
Romefleer8@yahoo.com
09186371955