Under the new administration of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, there is no certainty about the future of the Cebu City Medical Center that former mayor Michael Rama would have wanted to rebuild into a world-class medical facility.
Apparently the mayor’s policy is not so keen on putting up a new hospital; thus he’s not pursuing the dream of the people and the former mayor regardless of the dire health requirements of the people especially the poor.
The program of the present Osmeña administration is to make use of the budget of the city hospital to provide the poor PhilHealth coverage worth P100,000 to pay for hospitalization expenses in a private hospital.
But believe me the P100,000 is good for only three to five days in a private hospital especially if one is hospitalized for a serious illness.
For a premier city like Cebu City, it is but proper that it has its own public hospital to cater to the needs of its constituents just like in Manila City and Makati City.
I wish to appeal to the new administration especially to Mayor Tommy Osmeña to reconsider its decision on the reconstruction of the Cebu City Medical Center because the city needs it.
Allow me to share with you portions of a letter that was sent to me:
“Dear (This letter is translated from the original Visayan).
“Good day Mr. Poca. I chose to write you after my son read your column to me. I feel that you will understand the plight of the very poor in the City of Cebu.
“The poor have no chance, sir. When we get sick, we try to heal ourselves by taking herbs. When this doesn’t work, we have to find the money to go to a real doctor to be diagnosed.
“We get well most of the time but we owe money. At one point in my life, I had to be brought to a private hospital because of my kidney pains.
“My sons and daughters found ways to pay the required deposit but after the tests, the doctor said I really need to have a regular dialysis because my kidney is no longer functioning well.
“Many of the doctors nowadays lack the sensitivity of the older doctors. This also includes the fees they charge their patients.
“Should there be a malpractice law in the country too? Because there are doctors who also have made mistakes and nothing is done to make them accountable, right?
“Lastly, I think we should have a real hospital for the poor. What is happening to the CCMC, sir? Will we see this hospital for the poor? Can anything be done to speed up construction of the CCMC?
“I heard that the Mayor stopped the construction. I hope it is not true sir. I hope it is only a joke among the vendors at the market.
“It is just a joke, right? Everyone knows the city of Cebu needs a hospital. Where do we go when we get really sick? We need medical attention too. Those of us who cannot afford expensive medical attention, where do we go?
“The overcrowded V. Sotto Medical Center cannot accommodate all of us. Isn’t this very obvious? There are so many of us poor people here in Cebu.
“The private hospitals, sorry to say, worsens the diseases of the poor. There are charges for everything that the poor cannot afford. The medicines are so expensive.
“Where can we find medicines that the poor can afford? That is why I needed to write you. To let people know that as far as getting the right medical care is concerned, the poor have no chance.
“I hope that when people read your column, they would also try to reach out to you and their other friends so that something can be done.
“I know this is just wishful thinking, but who knows. I felt the urgency to write you and this is the very first time I have done something like this. Thank you, sir.”
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