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BSPH: BS (Aquino) PRIVATE HEALTH

HPAD Final Reflection Paper


by Shaila P. Bautista

During our very first lecture in Public Health Administration and Health Education, we were
taught about the guiding principles of health system and one basic concept that leads to every principle
is that Health is a very basic human right and because health is a right, it is an inborn entitlement, it
must be protected by the government and it must be exercise by all.
In 2014, the Aquino administration boast to modernize 72 public hospital including the
Philippine Orthopedic Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and Dr. Jose Fabella under the Public-PrivatePartnerships (PPP) wherein DOH said that this would be the solution for us to be able to modernize our
health facilities without expending tax money.1 We want to build hospitals but we are not going to use
tax money because we can use that for roads, airports and other infrastructure projects, the former
undersecretary for health Teodoro Herbosa stated.1 Of course there are some truths behind those
words of Dr. Herbosa that indeed, private institutions have the ability to modernize the current health
facilities our government failed to address but however, our leaders need to take into consideration that
these private institutions are businessmen (e.g. Megawide Construction Company, the winner of the
Philippine Orthopedic Center bid, is owned and managed by the wealthiest man here in the Philippines,
Henry Sy2) and come to think of it, these entrepreneurs will not go into so called partnerships without
having a gain or a profit in these acts. But the government is firm to their decision and said that no,
it will not be like that we dont want the private sectors ruling the public establishments and we dont
want privatization as well. So what well do is that well strictly monitor the whole process and assure
that the we are still in control of the public establishments and that the private sector will just help us
and that these are all still for the benefit of the poor. So whats wrong with that?1 With so many trust
issues in our government because of so many inhumane instances (corruption and the like), how can
DOH assure to us that they will still be the main deciding group for their public hospitals and that these
private sectors will not influence their decision making?
In our class, management was defined as the process of getting things done through and with
people by directing and motivating the efforts of individuals toward common objectives (through and
1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhWLqF4Q7yw
2 http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140217_cpp-denounces-aquino-plan-to-privatize-all-72-public-hospitals
3 http://congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=5502
4 personal account
5 http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2015/07/reyalidad-ng-sistemang-pangkalusugan-sa-bansa/
6 http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/matter-numbers/108958-nobel-laureate-richard-heck-death

with means mobilizing human resources while common objective means that a group of people
negotiate and put ideas together). If we would evaluate the management practices of the health sector
based from the definition stated above, we can say that yes theyre mobilizing human resources and yes
theyre negotiating with different people (negotiating with the private sector rather than their
constituents) yes theyre putting ideas together (I wonder what ideas their putting together) and the
question lies what really is their common objectives.
Privatization of the health system lets see if it fits the four attributes of the health system. Can
privatization lead to appropriateness? Is privatization the right thing to do at this point of time where six
out of ten Filipinos die without the benefit of medical attention from a health care professional?3 Dr. Lee
Suy, the current spokesperson of the Department of Health, said that Filipino people dont go to
hospitals because the hospitals facilities are unpleasant and thats why theyre pushing for
modernization of these hospitals4. Have they ever thought that the reason why people dont go to
hospitals is because they cant afford it and not because the facilities are not pleasant? And if the
facilities are not pleasant in their eyes, why cant they do something about it? Dr. Gene Nisperos,
convenor of Network Opposed to Privatization (NOP), said that we have the budget for improving the
facilities of our public hospitals but this budget was allocated for PhilHealth5 and this PhilHealth is
another issue in our health system.
Secondly, can privatization lead to accessibility of health services? Have you heard of the recent
news about the Nobel laureate chemist Richard Heck that recently died here in Manila? One of his
nurses said It was painful to see, that the man was fighting for his life but he was left to die, because he
did not have money.6 Can you just imagine if all we have here are private hospitals where money
down first practices occur? Also, can privatization lead to more accessible services for the
geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) here in the Philippines?
Thirdly, is privatization acceptable? If its indeed acceptable, we wouldnt hear health workers,
patients, social group rallying and protesting against it and lastly, can privatization lead to more
affordable health services? I strongly doubt.

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhWLqF4Q7yw
2 http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140217_cpp-denounces-aquino-plan-to-privatize-all-72-public-hospitals
3 http://congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=5502
4 personal account
5 http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2015/07/reyalidad-ng-sistemang-pangkalusugan-sa-bansa/
6 http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/matter-numbers/108958-nobel-laureate-richard-heck-death

Being an emergency room and out-patient department volunteer in the Philippine General
Hospital for two years now, I saw the hardships of our fellow countrymen just to get medical attention
from the best hospital in the country. I saw the hardships of our dear health workers may it be the
nurses or doctors, that even if they want to help the patients in the best way they could, they can only
help them in little ways since they are also prisoned in our horrible system. I witness many stories, just
like that of Mr. Richard Heck, and never fail to put tears in my eyes that people just go home and just
wait to die in their houses because they dont have enough money to avail the medications. I heard
stories that doctors manipulate the diagnosis of their patients just so the disease of the patient is still
covered by the PhilHealth and many more stories.
So lets say that all the 72 public hospitals become modern with this Public Private Partnerships,
will it solve the countrys health system problem? Will health services be available, accessible and
affordable to the poor and underserved? Will it draw people to visit the hospitals whenever theyre sick?
If all the answer is yes, be it. But if the answer is no and might make the system worst, theres a
necessity to oppose it. Health is a basic human right so after all that was said, one question still lingers,
does the Philippine government protect the right of its people when it comes to health?

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhWLqF4Q7yw
2 http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140217_cpp-denounces-aquino-plan-to-privatize-all-72-public-hospitals
3 http://congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=5502
4 personal account
5 http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2015/07/reyalidad-ng-sistemang-pangkalusugan-sa-bansa/
6 http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/matter-numbers/108958-nobel-laureate-richard-heck-death

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