Churchill Aguilar
THIS is in reply to the headline last Monday entitled “Oro wasting money on health premiums” where ex-councilor President Elipe cited that P140 million was paid for health premiums, and described the amount as “excessive wastage of people’s money.”
While his figures may be true, his interpretation is utterly idiotic. I mean since when is putting premium on health an excessive waste of people’s money? Wala naman gani ta gapanaway nga ang Misorcares is a doleout system lang nga pag hatag sa tambal sa mga tao hangtod mahurot ilang supply. Ang mga patiente lang nga wala na-admit sa ospital ang gakatabangan ana nga programa. Kung buot hunahunaon dili kana sustainable nga programa kai subsidy-based man kana, kung hurot na ang pondo, mamatay usab ang programa. Wala sad asenso ang ilang surgery, ortho ug uban pang mga serbisyo kai wala man didto gibutang ang limited budget ug walay revenue nga magamit para maka upgrade sa ilang mga serbisyo. Pero bisan pa man unsa ka inferior nga health service kana, dawaton ta kana kai sa wala na gyud intawon muabot sa mga katawhan.
But to say that P140 million spent for Philhealth is an excessive waste is an upfront insult to all Cagay-anons. We even deserve more than that. What is a waste of money are the unnecessary repairs of perfectly fine roads, and the granting of projects to contractors that are using substandard materials. That for one is a big waste because a big chunk of the budget only goes to few vested interests.
Health care is one of the very few services of the government that really reaches the grassroots, and the City Hospital has championed such services while remaining apolitical--meaning, they provide quality and free health services to anyone and everyone regardless of the person’s political affiliation. What is greatly notable on how the city hospital is administered now is that Dr. Ramon Nery was able to successfully orchestrate their system in such a way that all services are given free to the people but at the same time earn huge amount of money from Philhealth. The earnings in turn are used to upgrade their equipment, supplies and services allowing them to serve more patients, handle more complicated cases, and provide better services. Bisan kinsa pai pangutan on nato karon, kabalo sila kung unsa ang kalidad sa serbisyo sa city hospital ikompara sa provincial hospital, and to think the former is not even a tertiary hospital.
Kung mag hisgot naman lang ta ug mga numero, kabalo ba kamo nga niadtong 2013, only 39 thousand patients were served in the city hospital but in 2016 they were able to serve 135 thousand patients--three times more than the previous administration. As per records, in 2013 as well there were only 7,371 patients admission while in 2016 they were able to cater 23, 143 patients. If that does not justify our investment in Philhealth then I don’t know what else will.
What I am only trying to say really is that we should not politicize health care. Instead, let us support programs that enhance these services. And the present programs of the city hospital are one for the record books.
