Some Thoughts on Health Care

The other day I was reading a news in the papers about the Federal government's plan to overhaul and improve the payment process for those claiming for Medicare rebates. The plan was to set up a system wherein the holders of a Medicare card would be able to swipe this card in their doctor's office, the hospital, or any healthcare clinic, and the money owed would automatically be credited to their account. This proposal is aimed at increasing efficiency, and speeding up the process for Australian health care users to access health care funds. Once this is implemented and rolled out, just imagine how much more convenient and faster it will become for you and me to sort out medical bills; no more filling up forms and endless queueing in the Medicare office to lodge a claim.

This got me to thinking how lucky people here are compared to many other places. That bit of news is not even on the introduction of a national health care system, one that will entitle citizens and residents access to free or cheap consultation and treatment. Rather, that bit of news is a step ahead, it is on revamping the already existing system to provide users with better service. To address the basic needs of the people, which is access to health care, has already been put in place. To provide a cleaner, better payment system is obviously a bonus. Or at least that is what I feel; my sentiments may not be echoed by others as many would think that it is absolutely necessary for the government to give all these benefits, to make lives easier for its people.

If only every Filipino has this kind of health service available... to ensure that each one will receive basic treatment and be entitled to basic resources in the event of illness. Let's not even talk about an efficient payment system, but just the very basic availability of health service for all - rich or poor. People will be thankful and wouldn't mind queueing up for hours as long as there is treatment available... well, don't they do that anyway in many charity hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital (PGH)? Sad to say, such is not the case. I'm not even going to start on other more poverty-stricken countries. I would confine this discussion to something I am more familiar with and situations I have seen/direct exposure to.

When I was still an undergraduate student in UP, I was actively involved in a student-run, charitable organisation called Lingkod e.r. The mission is very simple - to provide direct and indirect financial assistance to indigents in Philippine hospitals. Like many groups with similiar cause, we did what we could to raise funds, solicit support, and raise awareness on the plight of the many people in need. I'd say that it was my major induction to the world of charity wards. It opened my eyes wider to the real state of charity hospitals in the Philippines. I wouldn't forget the image of the baby whose small body was wrapped in plastic to keep him warm because there was no incubator for him, nor the image of the man covered in wounds and gauze lying on a hospital stretcher but situated in the hallway because the wards were full, nor the child who has hydrocephalus who was waiting for a kind soul to sponsor his operation. The list goes on and on. There were countless accounts of patients not receiving treatment because they don't have enough to pay for some fees, patients dying from treatable infections just because there were no medicine for them, patients whose illness were aggravated due to the condition of the wards they were in. The place is cramped with so many people waiting to be given medical attention, relatives would be resting or sleeping on the floor beside stretchers; one or two small fans would be at work but failing to lessen the stale smell of the wards due to poor ventilation. In short, the situation is dire, and is not being helped with the government's continuous budget cut on health care. I no longer know how much the budget deficit is for PGH, but I believe that this deficit is so big that the Philippine's biggest charity hospital is at constant dependence on donations and help from charity groups. However, donations do not flow endlessly, the demand far exceeds the supply. For many of us who want to help, through volunteer work and pledging financial support, etc., we know too that there is also only so much one can do. It is difficult having that knowledge that there are so many indigent patients out there who may not have access to any form of assistance at all, but that perhaps is nothing compared to the difficulty that these people have to face, the knowledge that they could be cured... but only if they have enough funds...however not.

So count yourself lucky, if you have the means to buy private health insurance... if not, lucky even if you are under the shelter of a government health care system which actually gives and provides that benefit. Thinking about all these and remembering all that I have seen gives me a heavy heart. Everyday I count my blessings, and hopefully I would be able to share more of these.