BAGUIO CITY – The city council last Monday
joined the call to oppose the proposed privatization of the Baguio General
Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) as per House Bill 6069 by Rep. Anthony
Rolando Golez and Senate Bill 3130 by Sen. Franklin Drilon.
The body approved a resolution after hearing
the position of BGHMC medical director Dr. Manuel Factora during a legislative
inquiry where the statement of opposition of the Community Health Education,
Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) was also considered.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan however cautioned the
public to also consider the advantages of the proposed set-up in line with the
intent of the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.
“I am sure there are also advantages that
will go with the privatization because it is a program meant to improve the
system through partnership and not to sacrifice the interest of our city and
the marginalized sector. I am sure there
is a portion in the proposal that will safeguard the interest of our indigent
constituents,” the mayor said.
The mayor said the privatization plan is
intended to make the hospital cost equitable in such a way that patients who
can afford the services will pay the appropriate expenses while services for
the indigent will continue to be subsidized.
The city council called for the inquiry in
line with the proposed resolution of Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda to
determine the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed corporization of BGH
and 25 other hospitals nationwide.
Factora said the privatization plan will be
beneficial in terms of improved quality of services, upgraded equipment and
facilities as a result of improved financial resources.
As to the feared increase in the cost of
hospital services, Factora said this will still be subject to the decision of
the management of the hospital.
Chestcore along with other non-government
groups, have drummed up opposition to the plan saying it will trigger the
skyrocketing of hospital service cost beyond the reach of the ordinary people.
“The corporatization of public hospitals will
deprive people of much-needed health services and worsen the already ill state
of health of the country. It is a privatization scheme that will allow entry
into and control of health services by the private sector for super profits,”
the statement read.
Chestcore said this has been proven by past
experiences with the privatization of other public hospitals such as the
Philippine Heart Center, the Lung Center of the Philippines, the National
Kidney and Transplant Institute and the Philippine Children’s Medical where
health services are now beyond access by the poor.
The proposed bills seek the conversion of
Department of Health (DOH)-supervised public health care facilities such as the
BGHMC into government-owned-and-controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Aside from BGHMC, the other 25 hospitals eyed
for corporization are Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Veterans
Regional Hospital, Ilocos Training and
Regional Medical Center, Region I Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia
Memorial Research and Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center,
Batangas Regional Hospital, Bicol Medical Center (Naga City), Bicol Research
Training and Teaching Hospital (Legaspi City), Quirino Memorial Medical Center,
Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez
Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center,
Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Corazon LocsinMontelibano Memorial
Regional Hospital, Western Visayas Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical
Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Zamboanga City Medical Center,
Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, CARAGA Regional Hospital, Davao Regional
Hospital, and Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro, Sr. Regional Training and Teaching
Hospital. – A Refuerzo
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