Since two years ago I’ve been having my hemodialysis at an uptown hospital. I remember lamenting in my column how many patients discontinued their hemodialysis sessions after the 45 free sessions under their PhilHealth ran out.
Fortunately for us hemodialysis patients, the free sessions coverage under PhilHealth was extended to another 45 sessions, making it 90 sessions in all.
But please bear in mind that PhilHealth spends only P2,600 per session while private hospitals charge between P3,500 and P 4,000 per session, so hemodialysis patients still have to cover the rest of the amount.
Of course, there are other expenses relative to hemodialysis like the dialyzer worth P1,000 to P1,200 and the anti-anemia shot worth P1,200 to counter the side effects.
And take note that each patient usually undergoes at least three sessions a week. I hope that the Duterte administration raises PhilHealth coverage from P2,600 to probably P3,500 to P 4,000 and from 90 sessions to probably 120 sessions.
This proposal would go a long way to help ease the financial burden on the hemodialysis patients.
By the way I had been admitted in a private hospital for an illness and I tell you that expenses are astronomical. Thus the poor don’t go to private hospitals for treatment.
That’s why I would like now to underscore the need for a public hospital like the Cebu City Medical Center. At least with the CCMC, the poor people can be assured of adequate medical care.
I know that the construction of the city medical center is not a priority of the present local administration, and I respect their decision.
That is precisely why I am pleading to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino to intercede on behalf of Cebu City residents especially the poor to fund the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center.
If the Duterte administration finishes construction of the Cebu City Medical Center, then I would say Cebu City residents will not forget his administration and the CCMC may be considered his legacy.
Former mayor Michael Rama and Dr. Shawn Espina envisioned the city hospital to be a world-class hospital equipped with modern medical facilities that can serve the medical needs of Cebu City residents.
The City Council especially those from Team Rama may pass a resolution addressed to Dino asking him to intercede on behalf of the people of the city to finish the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center.
Because if not, I would like to personally meet Mr. Dino and bring to his attention the urgency to finish construction of the CCMC to meet the medical needs of the people of Cebu City.
This is a relevant and worthwhile project for the Duterte administration to pursue. Due to my experience I personally vowed to do my best to help our people avail of reasonable medical services.
Through my generous friends who are willing to help build a modern medical hospital where facilities and services are very affordable and accessible to the people especially the poor.
Indeed, it will be a dream come true to many of us to have a world-class medical facility with world-class medical equipment. I am doing this because I really pity the poor people in the city who have no access to reasonable medical services.
It is a matter of compassion and empathy to build a hospital that can care for the poor. I am asking Councilor Pastor Jun Alcover to study my humble proposal and sponsor a resolution in the council to this effect.
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